Objectives:to verify the reliability and construct validity estimates of the "Assessment of nursing care product" scale (APROCENF) and its applicability. Methods:this validation study included a sample of 40 (inter-rater reliability) and 172 (construct validity) assessments performed by nurses at the end of the work shift at nine inpatient services of a teaching hospital in the Brazilian Southeast. The data were collected between February and September/2014 with interruptions. Cronbach's alpha and Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated, as well as the intraclass correlation and the weighted kappa index (inter-rater reliability). Exploratory factor analysis was used with principal component extraction and varimax rotation (construct validity). Results:the internal consistency revealed an alpha coefficient of 0.85, item-item correlation ranging between 0.13 and 0.61 and item-total correlation between 0.43 and 0.69. Inter-rater equivalence was obtained and all items evidenced significant factor loadings. Conclusion:this research evidenced the reliability and construct validity of the scale to assess the nursing care product. Its application in nursing practice permits identifying improvements needed in the production process, contributing to management and care decisions.

Objectives: develop and validate the content of a tool about nursing care production.Method: the data were collected between 2011 and 2013, based on focus groups, the application of semistructured questionnaires (prototype test) and the Delphi technique. The focus groups were used to produce the instrument items and held at three hospitals in the interior of the State of São Paulo, involving 20 nurses. A panel of 10 experts evaluated the instrument. Results: after two phases of the Delphi technique, the tool consisted of eight items. The content validity index of the scale corresponded to ≥0.9 and the content validity of the items ranged between 0.8 and 1.0, indicating the maintenance of the structure and content. The assertion on the applicability in daily nursing practice showed a content validity index of the scale equal to 0.8.Conclusion: this study permitted the development and content validation of scale on nursing care production, equipping the nurses in their management practice.

This is a theoretical-reflective essay, which aimed to reflect on the centralization of Patient Classification Systems in workload and hospital nursing staff sizing. The reflexive interpretations were guided by two axes: Patient Classification Systems : constitution and utilities; and “Hidden” nursing activities in workload measurement. The first evidences the importance and the role of these instruments in workload identification and in hospital nursing staff sizing, exemplifying several possibilities to be used by nurses. On the other hand, with the second axis, it is clear that there are many nursing activities that are not sensitive to the application (even if systematic) of these means of patient assessment. Therefore, nursing workload measurement may be underestimated. It was inferred that the complexity of practice environments requires a macro and micro institutional look at the nursing workload measurement, especially when considered for workforce planning/sizing purposes.

Objective:construct and test a proposal to measure the qualitative dimension of nursing workload; identify the workload cut-off point and its indicator as predictors of the good and optimal nursing care product score.Method:this is a descriptive study conducted in four inpatient units and four intensive care units of a Brazilian teaching hospital, considering 308 evaluations performed by 19 nurses. Four measurement instruments were used: three to assess the care demand in relation to nursing and the other to classify the care product delivered at the end of the shift. The workload was calculated and its indicator was constructed.Results:a weak and inverse correlation was found between the care product score, workload and the workload indicator and the workload indicator in the units and moderate and inverse between Nursing care planning and Care needs assistance with the number of hospitalized patients.Conclusion:it is possible to associate workload and its indicator with the care product. Nursing workload ≤ 173 hours (24 hours) and indicator ≤ 12.3 hours / professional were associated with a higher probability of obtaining a “good” and “optimal” score in the care product in the inpatient units.

Objective: To investigate the sources and causes of interruptions during the medication administration process performed by a nursing team and measure its frequency, duration and impact on the team’s workload. Métodos: This is an observational study that timed 121 medication rounds (preparation, administration and documentation) performed by 15 nurses and nine nursing technicians in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the countryside of the state of São Paulo. Resultados: 63 (52.1%) interruptions were observed. In each round, the number of interruptions that happened ranged from 1-7, for 127 in total; these occurred mainly during the preparation phase, 97 (76.4%). The main interruption sources were: nursing staff – 48 (37.8%) − and self-interruptions – 29 (22.8%). The main causes were: information exchanges – 54 (42.5%) − and parallel conversations – 28 (22%). The increase in the mean time ranged from 53.7 to 64.3% (preparation) and from 18.3 to 19.2% (administration) – p≤0.05. Conclusão: Interruptions in the medication process are frequent, interfere in the workload of the nursing team and may reflect on the safety of care.

Objective: To evaluate nurses’ perception of the degree of interference of indirect care interventions on the team’s workload and to verify the association between these interventions and the professional and institutional variables. Method: A research survey through e-mail conducted with clinical nurses, unit managers and service managers from eight Brazilian states. A questionnaire containing 28 indirect care interventions and their definitions proposed by the Nursing Interventions Classification was applied. Results: A total of 151 clinical nurses participated, and a response rate of 14.8% was obtained. The indirect care interventions reported as those which most increase the workload were: Preceptor: employee (M = 3.2), Employee Development (M = 3.1), Physician Support (M = 3.0) and Conflict mediation (M = 3.0). Statistically significant associations between the investigated interventions and the institutional variables (legal nature and size) were evidenced. Conclusion: Nurses in different practice scenarios perceive that indirect care interventions influence the workload in a differentiated way, with emphasis on the demands related to the monitoring and qualification of employees.

OBJETIVO: Aplicar o modelo da avaliação emancipatória para subsidiar a transformação no Programa Educativo do Serviço de Controle de Infecção Hospitalar de um Hospital de Ensino. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de uma pesquisa-ação, realizada com seis enfermeiros da Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Coronariana de um Hospital de Ensino do interior do Estado de São Paulo. Realizaram-se entrevistas coletivas e nove círculos de discussão fundamentados no método de Paulo Freire. RESULTADOS: Foram identificados 7 temas geradores: programa anual, domínio do conteúdo pelo mediador, horário e duração das aulas, desenvolvimento das aulas, repercussão na prática, instrumentos de avaliação e organização do Serviço de Controle de Infecção Hospitalar. Esta pesquisa possibilitou: maior autonomia dos enfermeiros, integração da equipe de enfermagem nas visitas de vigilância nos diferentes turnos de trabalho e suporte para enfermeiros multiplicadores. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo proporcionou envolvimento dos enfermeiros multiplicadores e subsidiou uma reflexão crítica dos profissionais com estratégias para reestruturação do programa.

Este estudo descritivo objetivou: caracterizar unidades de clínica médica-cirúrgica de um hospital filantrópico, e a equipe de enfermagem lotada nestas unidades; identificar o perfil assistencial da clientela e investigar o tempo de assistência dispensado aos pacientes pela equipe de enfermagem. Os dados foram coletados a partir de documentos dos Departamentos de Pessoal e de Enfermagem, e aplicação de instrumento de classificação de pacientes. Para cálculo das horas de assistência, utilizou-se equação proposta pelo Compromisso com a Qualidade Hospitalar (CQH). Os achados evidenciaram relação de 1:1 profissional de enfermagem/leito e variação de 0,10 a 0,21 enfermeiros/leito. Os pacientes demandaram, predominantemente, cuidados mínimos (47,1% a 79,6%) e intermediários (17,7% a 38,6%) e o tempo médio dispensado pela equipe de enfermagem variou de 4,1 a 5,1 horas. Os valores mostraram que as horas de assistência dispensadas pela equipe de enfermagem estavam insuficientes para atender à complexidade assistencial dos pacientes.