Patients severity or the number of interventions will not always be proportional to the nursing staff's work load. This descriptive study aimed at demonstrating the trajectory for designing a computer application (software) with Nursing Activities Score content and its operational characteristics. A pilot test was conducted with 12 patients, which was followed by data collection from 123 patients for 90 consecutive days. Compatibility was observed in wireless data transmission from the Personal Digital Assistent to the desk computer. This application's construction resulted in a data collection and administration system, as well as enabled graphic interface. The use of the software allows for the utilization of a technological system with daily applications, with the support of a database concerning the characteristics of required care. With better understanding of the development of such variables during hospitalization, nurses will be able to plan, intervene, and evaluate care quality.
Nursing; Intensive care unit; Informatics; Workload; Nursing activities score
