title: [Index of Caring Complexity as a management tool in a surgical setting: an observational study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Among different methods of nursing classification, the Index of Caring Complexity (ICC) is a management tool to evaluate appropriateness of nursing procedures, integrate health-care support workers and to monitor the need of nursing staff. The objective of this observational study was to apply the ICC method in a surgical ward of the Marche Region (Italy), to determine the nursing staff level.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1 January to 30 April 2010, all data of patients admitted for more than 48 hours were collected. The determination of nursing staff level derived from the five patient classification on the basis of the complexity/gravity "scores" of data flow obtained during the caring process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ICC method showed a staffing of 11 nurses: a staff shortage of three nurse, if compared to the actual staff. The ICC method also demonstrate its strength as a useful tool to reorganize care. The ICA showed that the most frequent nursing activities :"Apply postures to facilitate breathing "(83%),"Prepare/provide appropriate foods in temperature/texture/quantity "(100%); "Providing aids for elimination needs" (80.7%); "Help in dressing" (82.7%); "Transfer from stretcher to bed" (83.4%); "Remaking bed/unit sick" (100%); "Monitoring of vital signs" (100%); "Health Education" (100%); "Nursing Assessment" (100%); "Management and treatment of intravascular devices" (100%); "Performing instrumental exams".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assess the most frequent nursing activities, allows: to better distribute activities among professionals, identify nurses' competencies and activities to be prescribed to health-care support workers.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, Centro di Ricerca Clinica CRC-CeSI, Università G. d'Annunzio, Chieti.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Simonetti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, Centro di Ricerca Clinica CRC-CeSI, Università G. d'Annunzio, Chieti.
authors.forename: Dania
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Comparcini
authors.affiliation: ASUR Marche, Area Vasta 3, Civitanova Marche.
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buccolini
authors.affiliation: ASL02 Abruzzo, Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti Corrispondence: Giancarlo Cicolini - Center of Excellence on Aging, Clinical Research Center CRC-CeSI - Università "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti Via dei Vestini 31, 66013 Chieti Scalo - Italia. E-mail: g.cicolini@unich.it.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cicolini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000592:standards; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000592:standards; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D016526:Workload