Nursing workload in a postanesthesia recovery room: a mixed-methods study

Abstract

Objective: analyzing the workload of nurses in a postanesthesia recovery room in a teaching hospital in the south of Brazil. Method: mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. In the quantitative, cross-sectional stage, the workload was evaluated using the Nursing Activities Score in 209 patients. In the qualitative stage, 14 nurses were interviewed. Quantitative data analysis was carried out using SPSS Statistics 21.0. Qualitative data went through Bardin's content analysis. Results: the workload found was 57%. Two categories emerged: Characteristics of patients and situations that are determinant for workload — clinical conditions of the patients were said to intensify the workload; and Work organization: characteristics that influence workload — personnel sizing and team cooperation are determining factors. Conclusion: the overload is high, and the workers notice the features that influence it.

Keywords

• enfermagem
• trabalho
• cuidados críticos
• carga de trabalho
• dimensionamento de pessoal