title: Nursing workload in neurological intensive care units: cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nursing workload has been associated with quality of patient care. Thus, it is important to measure nursing workload in neurological intensive care units (neuro-ICUs).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of the study were to assess nursing workload in neuro-ICUs and identify independent factors associated with nursing workload.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in two neuro-ICUs with 11 beds each (for a total of 22 beds) of a private general hospital in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Data from the first 24 hours of admission to the neuro-ICUs from 100 consecutive patients were collected from the hospital database. The Nursing Activities Score (NAS) was used to assess nursing workload in the neuro-ICUs. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and multiple linear regression analysis. Statistical significance was set at α=0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were mostly men (52.00%), had a mean age of 55.10 years, median length of ICU stay of 2 days, and survival rate of 94.00%. Fifty-nine percent of patients were transferred from the surgical ward. Mean NAS was 65.18% (standard deviation=6.63%) and the risk of mortality according to the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II) and the Logistic Organ Dysfunction System (LODS) was 17.79% and 16.30%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results are important for the effective planning and use of nursing resources according to the care needs of patients in neuro-ICUs.
authors.affiliation: Hospital da Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo, Rua Maestro Cardin, 769 Bela Vista, CEP 01323-900, São Paulo, Brazil. aldafq@usp.br
authors.forename: Alda Ferreira
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Queijo
authors.forename: Renata Soares
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Rafaela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andolhe
authors.forename: Elaine Machado
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Ricardo Luis
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Katia Grillo
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Padilha
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D064648:Critical Care Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D016526:Workload