OBJECTIVE: This article aims at presenting the existing patient classifications systems. METHODS: a literature review. RESULTS: Instruments found out are: that by Garrard et al, Home Health Care Classification System, Katz Scale, the utilized tables by the Brazilian Medical Enterprises in Home Care and by Home Care National Enterprises Center, the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS) for non-ICU patients, adapted by Dal Ben, and the catalog for services delivery of the Assistance and Home Care Services Foundation (Fondation des services d'aide et des soins à domicile). From these instruments, the last two mentioned measure the workload and others present indicators for obtaining human and financial resources. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: In relation to the time spent in caring patients, it is of 24 hours when dependence is total; of 12 hours when it is partial and moderated dependence 6 hours caring/per day, per patient.
Nursing services; Health Personnel; Home Nursing; Nursing Staff