Workload in the Surgical Center: perceptions, activities and time spent by nurses^*

Objective: to evaluate the workload perceived by operating room nurses and the time spent on the activities performed and to understand the activities that influence their perception.

Method: sequential explanatory mixed methods study. The quantitative stage involved a survey of 34 nurses from five hospitals and measuring the time spent on each activity in the hospitals with the highest and lowest perceived workload, during 129 hours of observation. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with 12 nurses. The quantitative data was analyzed descriptively and inferentially, and the qualitative data was submitted to content analysis and then integrated by connection.

Results: there was a predominance of females (88.23%) and a mean age of 39±8.18 years among the nurses, with a moderate (r=0.502) and significant (p=0.002) correlation between age and perceived workload. Managerial activities spent more time and were identified as the most influential in the perception of the workload associated with the mental demand dimension.

Conclusion the activities that have the greatest impact on the perception of workload include managing the sector and people. Direct patient care was identified as providing job fulfillment and purpose.

Descriptors:
Nurse’s Role; Workload; Perioperative Nursing; Intraoperative Period; Professional Competence; Surgicenters

Highlights:

(1) Moderate and significant correlation between perception of workload and age. (2) The highest percentage of time measured was spent on managerial activities. (3) Mental demand scored highest in the perception of workload. (4) Direct patient care is a significant source of job fulfillment. (5) Nurses express a loss in the essence of care to the detriment of other activities.