This prospective, exploratory-descriptive study was aimed at analyzing the results of the change of model of the Nursing Assistance System (SAE), with the introduction of a nursing diagnosis classification, on the time spent by the nurse in the realization of this system, identifying the estimated time and the measured time. The study was based on a sample of 42 nurses from different units of the University of São Paulo's Hospital Universitário, with in average 11 years of professional experience, who were observed in average 5 times while carrying out the phases of the SAE. The data were collected from August, 2005 to February, 2006, after the introduction and consolidation of the nursing diagnosis classification. The results showed that the time estimated by the nurses was significantly longer than the time actually measured; and that the time spent for patient evaluation was, on average, longer during his/her admission compared to the follow-up.
Nursing process; Nursing staff; Nursing diagnosis; Workload
