Validation of the Nursing Activities Score in Portuguese intensive care units

this was a pilot study of adaptation and validation of the Nursing Activities Score with a sample consisting of 67 patients hospitalized in the intensive care units of three Portuguese hospitals. The construct validity was assessed through factor analysis procedures and the internal consistency of the items was measured through the Cronbach's alpha coefficient.

Results:

a mean workload value of 63.04% (SD = 14.25; Median = 61.30) was obtained. Psychometric data revealed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.71 in the total scale, indicating an acceptable accuracy. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested an appropriate adjustment between the model and the data (χ²₍₁₉₉₎ = 214.5, p = 0.214; CFI = 0.95; RMSA = 0.035).

Conclusion:

in the present study, the Portuguese version of the Nursing Activities Score was found to be a valid instrument, enabling a safe assessment of the workload of nurses.

Descriptors:
Workload; Intensive Care Units; Nursing; Management; Nursing Activities Score

Nursing Activities Score	Mean	Standard deviation	EPM^* * EPM = Standard Mean Error;	Min	Max
Item 1: Monitoring and controls	9.01	4.62	0.578	4.50	19.60
Item 2: Laboratory investigations	4.23	0.54	0.067	0.00	4.30
Item 3: Drug therapy, except vasoactive drugs	5.51	0.70	0.088	0.00	5.60
Item 4: Hygiene procedures	6.36	4.94	0.617	0.00	16.50
Item 5: Care with drains	1.52	0.66	0.082	0.00	1.80
Item 6: Mobilization and positioning	11.75	2.03	0.253	5.50	12.40
Item 7: Support and care to patients and their families	2.94	1.78	0.223	0.00	4.00
Item 8: Management and administrative tasks	5.09	4.05	0.506	4.20	23.20
Item 9: Respiratory support	1.33	0.30	0.037	0.00	1.40
Item 10: Care with artificial airways	0.98	0.90	0.113	0.00	1.80
Item 11: Treatment of pulmonary function	3.44	1.83	0.229	0.00	4.40
Item 12: Vasoactive drug therapy	0.58	0.60	0.076	0.00	1.20
Item 13: Intravenous restitution	1.17	1.26	0.157	0.00	2.50
Item 14: Left atrium monitoring	0.00^† † 0.00 = Absent intervention; Min = minimum; Max = maximum.	0.00	0.000	0.00	0.00
Item 15: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation	0.22	1.25	0.156	0.00	7.10
Item 16: Hemofiltration techniques	0.12	0.96	0.120	0.00	7.70
Item 17: Quantitative measure of diuresis	6.78	1.23	0.153	0.00	7.00
Item 18: Intracranial pressure monitoring	0.10	0.39	0.049	0.00	1.60
Item 19: Treatment of metabolic acidosis/alkalosis	0.22	0.49	0.062	0.00	1.30
Item 20: Total parenteral nutrition	0.32	0.91	0.114	0.00	2.90
Item 21: Enteral feeding	0.39	0.60	0.075	0.00	1.30
Item 22: Specific interventions in the ICU	0.61	1.17	0.146	0.00	2.80
Item 23: Specific interventions out of the ICU	0.36	0.75	0.093	0.00	1.90
Dimension: Basic activities	46.41	11.09	1.39	28.20	87.40
Dimension: Ventilatory support	5.76	2.52	0.31	0.00	7.60
Dimension: Cardiovascular support	1.98	1.89	0.24	0.00	9.60
Dimension: Renal support	6.90	1.58	0.20	0.00	14.70
Dimension: Neurologic support	0.10	0.39	0.05	0.00	1.60
Dimension: Metabolic support	0.93	0.99	0.12	0.00	2.90
Dimension: Specific interventions	0.97	1.47	0.18	0.00	4.70
Total value of the workload within the 24 hours	63.04	14.25	1.78	38.00	115.00

Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem SGA Norte Quadra 603 Conj. "B" - Av. L2 Norte 70830-102 Brasília, DF, Brasil, Tel.: (55 61) 3226-0653, Fax: (55 61) 3225-4473 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
E-mail: reben@abennacional.org.br

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Ana Paula Morais de Carvalho Macedo. E-mail: amacedo@ese.uminho.pt