NURSING ATTENTION DEMANDS AT A NEONATAL, PEDIATRIC AND GENERAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Abstract

Descriptive and quantitative study to identify intensive nursing attention demands and the efforts these professionals make to cope with these demands. The research was developed in three intensive care contexts (pediatric, neonatal and general) at a hospital in the Brazilian Northeast. The data were collected between May 2011 and June 2012, based on the tool Directed Attention Demands. The demands that most required nursing attention are concentrated in the Domain Physical and Psychological Environment and were associated with the physical facilities of the work environment, with the nurse’s emotions and concerns in the care relations. The results suggest the establishment of interventions in the environment, in the structure and in the care practices with a view to favoring a better quality of care and quality of life for the nurses.

Keywords

• Nursing
• Intensive care units
• Intensive care