Pirret AM, Corkery MC, Gilhooly A, Devoy KL, Strickland W. The comparison of the Nursing Activities Score and TrendCare to accurately measure critical care nursing workload: A prospective observational design.
Intensive Crit Care Nurs 2024;
81:103568. [PMID:
38271856 DOI:
10.1016/j.iccn.2023.103568]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Intensive care units commonly use the Nursing Activities Score (NAS) to measure nursing workload, however, some settings use TrendCare. Historically 100 NAS points reflected one nurse, however research now suggests greater than 61 NAS points per nurse increases hospital mortality.
OBJECTIVES
To determine if: 1) TrendCare accurately reflects critical care nursing workload as measured by the NAS and 2) the required nursing hours calculated by each of the scoring systems differed between indigenous and non-indigenous patients.
METHODS
Using a prospective observational design, data were collected between 9 August - 25 November 2021. Nursing workload was assessed over three shifts using TrendCare and the NAS.
RESULTS
Analysis included 183 patients and 829 TrendCare and NAS scores. The mean NAS for intensive care patients was >61 on all three shifts (morning M = 67.1 ± 18.2, afternoon M = 66.1 ± 18.1, night M = 64.0 ± 18.1). The mean NAS for high dependency patients (morning M = 46.1 ± 11.1, afternoon M 45.9 ± 11.0, night Mdn 46.1 [40.5-54.1]) identified a nurse:patient ratio of 1:2 reflected a NAS >90. The NAS and TrendCare found no difference in nursing hours between indigenous and non-indigenous patients, however higher scores for respiratory (H = 7.3, p = <.01), cardiovascular (H = 12.7, p = <.001) and renal (H = 12.7, p = <.001) support, and care for relatives and patients (H = 13.8, p = <.001) on some shifts were identified in indigenous patients.
CONCLUSION
TrendCare nursing hours likely reflect a 1:1 nurse: patient ratio for intensive care patients but likely under-estimates high dependency care nursing workload. The NAS activities highlighted some activities required more time for indigenous patients on some shifts.
IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE
TrendCare likely reflects intensive care nursing workload but not high dependency nursing workload. A NAS of no greater than 61 points per nurse better reflects nursing workload in both the intensive and high dependency care units. Indigenous patients may require more nursing hours for nursing activities related to severity of illness.
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