Determining stroke rehabilitation inpatients' level of nursing care

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) to predict staffing needs of stroke patients in an acute inpatient rehabilitation program. The Patient Care Index (PCI) was concurrently administered with the FIM on all stroke admissions to a stroke rehabilitation unit over a 3-month period. One hundred fourteen patients 18 years of age or older admitted to the unit with a medical diagnosis of stroke were included in the sample. Total FIM score had a strong inverse relationship to the level of care indicated by the PCI at Days 1, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20 of rehabilitation (r(s) = -. 76 to -.87). Total FIM score and the need for staff supervision for safety were the two factors predictive of the level of nursing care. The FIM has potential to guide nurse-staffing decisions.