title: [The measurement of nursing workload in a sub-intensive unit with the Nine Equivalents of Nursing Manpower Scale].
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The measurement of nursing workload in a sub-intensive unit with the Nine Equivalents of Nursing Manpower Scale.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The need to maximize the nursing manpower to patients complexity requires a careful assessment of the nursing workload.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure the nursing workload in a sub-intensive care unit and to assess the impact of patients isolated for multidrug resistant microorganisms (MDR) and with delirium, on the nursing workload.
  
  
  METHODS
  From december 1 2014 to march 31 2015 the nursing workload of patients admitted to a semi intensive untit of a Turin Hospital was measured with Nine Equivalents of Nursing Manpower (NEMS) original and modified, adding 1 point score for patients isolated and with delirium (Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale). Admission and discharge times, and the activities performed in and out of the unit were registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-hundred-thirty patients were daily assessed and no differences were observed in mean NEMS scores with the original and modified scale: december 17.3 vs 18.5; January 19.4 vs 20.2; February 19.9 vs 20.6; March 19.5 vs 20.1). mean scores did not change across shifts although on average 8 days a month the scores exceeded 21, identifiyng an excess workload and a need of a 2:1 patient/nurse ratio. The maximum workload was concentrated between 12.00 and 18.00 pm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NEMS scale allows to measure the nursing workload. Apparently patients isolated and with delirium did not significantly impact on the nursing workload.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Orazio
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dragonetti
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Finiguerra
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000401:mortality / Q000451:nursing*; D003704:Dementia / Q000401:mortality / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload