title: [Definition and variables of complexity of nursing care: a literature review].
abstract: Complexity of nursing care represents an important indicator in the planning and management of nursing resources and healthcare management. However, the term is not clearly defined in the literature. The aim of this article is to outline the main concepts associated with complexity of nursing care, trying to shed light on the different variables that constitute it. We conducted a review of the literature and selected 12 articles. The terms associated with the concept of complexity of nursing care include nursing intensity, nursing work, nursing workload, patient acuity and severity of illness. The literature review indicates that complexity of nursing care appears to be one of the variables of care intensity, the latter being defined as a commitment of care delivered to the patient. It is associated with the concepts of nursing work, nursing workload, patient acuity and severity of illness. Understanding and clarifying the concept of complexity of care is fundamental in order to measure and evaluate the real demand for nursing care by individual patients.
authors: RN,MSN Dottorando di ricerca del Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Università degli studi di Roma &quot;Tor Vergata&quot;, Italia.
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Bravetti
authors: RN, PhD Dirigente delle Professioni sanitarie, Policlinico A. Gemelli, Roma, Italia.
authors: Antonello
authors: A
authors: Cocchieri
authors: RN, PhD, Assegnista di ricerca del Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Università degli studi di Roma &quot;Tor Vergata&quot;, Italia.
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: D'Agostino
authors: RN, PhD, Assegnista di ricerca del Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Università degli studi di Roma &quot;Tor Vergata&quot;, Italia.
authors: Ercole
authors: E
authors: Vellone
authors: RN,MSN Professore associato Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Università degli studi di Roma &quot;Tor Vergata&quot;, Italia.
authors: Rosaria
authors: R
authors: Alvaro
authors: RN, PhD Direttore delle Professioni sanitarie, Policlinico A. Gemelli, Roma, Italia.
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Zega
mesh_terms: D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009732:Nursing Care; D062072:Patient Acuity; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016526:Workload