title: [Analysis of the workload and the use of the nursing resources in an intensive care unit].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and assess the nursing workload (NW) scales by means of three scales and to determine the theoretical and real nurse/patient relationship in a polyvalent ICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional descriptive study between July 2012 and June 2013 in patients over 18 years old, for which 3 nurses quantified, in randomized days, the NW by the Nursing Activities Score (NAS), Nine Equivalents Manpower Score (NEMS) and Valoración de Cargas de Trabajo y Tiempos de Enfermería (VACTE). Efficiency parameters of nursing resources were calculated: "work utilization ratio" (WUR), "level of care" operative (LOCop) and planned (LOCp). Data on demographics, length of stay and number of nurses were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  720 records were collected. The mean age was 64 (13.6) years. 73% were male and the median of length of stay was 3 (1-12) days. 60% were admitted for medical causes. The average total score was: NAS: 696.8 (111.6), NEMS: 311.8 (55.3) and VACTE: 4,978 (897.7). The required number of nurses according to NAS was 7 and 6,7 according to NEMS and VACTE. The actual average was 5.5. On all 3 scales the WUR was >1 and LOCop was 1.6 pacients/nurse. The LOCp was 2 patients/nurse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessing NW allows to know the reality of each unit. According to the scales and efficiency parameters of the nursing resources used, there is a shortage of nurses in relation to the work generated. NAS reflects more parameters of NW.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Universitario Mútua Terrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: finavalls@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valls-Matarín
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Universitario Mútua Terrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salamero-Amorós
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Universitario Mútua Terrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roldán-Gil
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009729:Nursing; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Cargas de trabajo; Critical care; Cuidados intensivos; Enfermería; Levels of care; Niveles de atención; Nursing; Nursing workload