title: Assessing the adequacy of workload measurement tools using a quality-based methodology.
abstract: determine which tool (NEMS and NAS) is most suitable for use in intensive care units using a quality-based methodology.
  after identifying the opportunity for improvement "Inadequacy of the NEMS for determining nursing workload in the intensive care unit (ICU)", we assessed the NEMS and the NAS, as a proposed improvement to the NEMS, using quality improvement cycles methodology based on the following criteria: measurement of daily nursing workload on a daily and shift basis; the tool encompasses all nursing activities undertaken in the ICU; and workload assessed per patient and unit.
  there was no significant difference in level of compliance for the NEMS (67%). The comparison NEMS-NAS showed that there was a statistically significant improvement for all criteria except criterion 1. The NEMS only assesses criterion 1 (64.22%); while the NAS assessed all four criteria, obtaining a compliance rate of 64.74% for criteria 1, 2, and 4, and 100% for criterion 3.
  the NAS is more suitable for measuring nursing workload in UCIs.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca. Murcia, España.|Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Área de Calidad de Enfermería. Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Maria Fuensanta Hellín
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.affiliation: Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca. Murcia, España.|Universidad de Murcia, Facultad de Enfermería. Murcia. España.
authors.forename: Maria José López
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Montesinos
authors.affiliation: Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca. Murcia, España.|Universidad de Murcia, Facultad de Enfermería. Murcia. España.
authors.forename: Ana Myriam Seva
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Llor
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Área de Calidad de Enfermería. Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Maria Pilar Ferrer
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bas
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Alicante, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Enfermería. Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Maria Loreto Maciá
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Soler
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010559:Personnel Management / Q000379:methods*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000592:standards*; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload / Q000592:standards*