title: Evaluation of the nursing workload through the Nine Equivalents for Nursing Manpower Use Scale and the Nursing Activities Score: a prospective correlation study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between nursing workload measured through the nine equivalents of nursing manpower use (NEMS) scale and that measured through the nursing activities score (NAS) scale and to analyse staff needs as determined through each of the scales.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used a descriptive prospective correlational design to collect data between October 2007 and July 2009. Nursing workload data for 730 ICU patients were collected daily using the NAS and NEMS scales. Both scales were then correlated and used to estimate staff needs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  6815 score pairs were collected, which reflected the nursing workload for each patient as calculated daily using both scales. Pearson's correlation coefficient for individual measurements obtained through the NAS and the NEMS corresponded to .672, and to .932 for the daily total workload in the unit. The staffing requirements based on the NAS scale scores were significantly higher than those based on the NEMS scale. A high correlation existed for individual measurements using both scales and for the total workload measurement in the unit. The main difference was found when analysing staffing requirements, with higher staff numbers needed for the NAS scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both NAS and NEMS can be used to measure the nursing workload in the ICU. Staffing requirements using NAS were higher than those using NEMS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. javier.carmona@urjc.es
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Carmona-Monge
authors.forename: Gloria Ma
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rollán Rodríguez
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quirós Herranz
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: García Gómez
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marín-Morales
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload