RESUMOEsta pesquisa de natureza quantitativa, descritiva, do tipo estudo de caso, teve por objetivo identificar e analisar a distribuição do tempo de trabalho das enfermeiras em uma unidade de emergência. Para alcançar os objetivos, utilizou-se o método de amostragem de trabalho. A identificação das atividades de enfermagem, realizadas pelas enfermeiras, ocorreu mediante avaliação das fichas de atendimento dos pacientes e da observação direta das enfermeiras no cotidiano de trabalho da unidade. As atividades identificadas foram posteriormente categorizadas de acordo com um sistema padronizado de linguagem. Verificouse que 35% do tempo das enfermeiras são dedicados às intervenções de cuidado indireto, 35% às intervenções de cuidado direto, 18% às atividades de tempo pessoal e 12% às atividades associadas. A produtividade média destas profissionais correspondeu a 82%. Com este estudo, evidenciam-se perspectivas de realizar novas investigações no sentido de identificar parâme-tros que subsidiem o processo de dimensionar o pessoal de enfermagem em unidades de emergência. DESCRITORES ABSTRACTThe objective of this quantitative, descriptive, case study was to identify and analyze the distribution of nurses' work time at an emergency service. To do this, the work sampling method was used. The nursing activities performed by the studied nurses were identified by evaluating the patient care forms and by direct observation of nurses during their everyday work routine at the service. The identified activities were then categorized according to a standardized language system. It was found that 35% of the nurses' time was dedicated to indirect care interventions, 35% to direct care interventions, 18% to private time activities and 12% to related activities. The average productivity of the studied workers was 82%. This study provided evidence of perspectives to perform further research to identify the parameters that would support the process of rightsizing nursing personnel at emergency services.

The objective of this quantitative, descriptive, case study was to identify and analyze the distribution of nurses' work time at an emergency service. To do this, the work sampling method was used. The nursing activities performed by the studied nurses were identified by evaluating the patient care forms and by direct observation of nurses during their everyday work routine at the service. The identified activities were then categorized according to a standardized language system. It was found that 35% of the nurses' time was dedicated to indirect care interventions, 35% to direct care interventions, 18% to private time activities and 12% to related activities. The average productivity of the studied workers was 82%. This study provided evidence of perspectives to perform further research to identify the parameters that would support the process of rightsizing nursing personnel at emergency services.