OBJECTIVE: To describe the composition and distribution of nursing staff in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). METHOD: This exploratory study was conducted in 17 ICUs within six hospitals located in the northwestern region of São Paulo. RESULTS: We found on average the following percentages: 13.1% professional nurses, & between 11.2% and 75.7% technical nursing assistants. The ratio of nurses per bed varied between 0.08 to 0.80 (Md 0.31 (0.27, 0.41) and nursing bed between 1.36 to 4.0 (Md 2.45 (1.62 ; 2.91). CONCLUSION: The quantitative and qualitative composition of the nursing staff in intensive care units surveyed are not consistent with the values recommended by the Federal Council of Nursing (COFEN) for care of critically ill patients.
Human resources administration; Nursing human resources in the hospital; Intensive care units
