Nurses' workload: an observational study of indirect care activities

• Grant number: 14/24682-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2015
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Marcia Galan Perroca
• Grantee: Bruna Andrade de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Currently, the Nursing workload is driven by instruments which measure mainly activities directly related to the care of patients. However, the Nursing work comprises other activities creating the need to construct more adequate instruments. Objectives: To observe the nurses' workflow identifying indirect care activities that can influence the workload and measure the frequency and the mean time spent on their development. Method: This is an exploratory, observational study of quantitative approach which will be carried out in units of medical, surgical and specialized clinics in a hospital in the state of São Paulo in the year of 2015. It will be made in three steps: 1. Mapping the indirect care activities; 2. Pre-test and, 3. Measurement of the spent time. Direct observation of 18 nurses will be estimated by two researchers during 90 hours. The time measurement will be made by a time tracking software.