[Nursing personnel downsizing in a teaching hospital]

Area of Science:

• Nursing Management
• Healthcare Staffing
• Hospital Administration

Background:

• Federal Nursing Council Resolution 293/2004 mandates specific nurse-to-patient ratios.
• Accurate staffing is crucial for quality patient care and operational efficiency in teaching hospitals.
• Previous assessments may not have aligned with current regulatory requirements or patient care demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reconcile nursing personnel numbers with Federal Nursing Council Resolution 293/2004 in a teaching hospital.
• To evaluate patient care complexity and associated nursing time requirements.
• To identify discrepancies between current staffing and optimal staffing levels.

Main Methods:

• Patient classification into care complexity levels.
• Measurement of time required for nurse care delivery.
• Comparison of current nursing workforce numbers against calculated needs.
• Analysis of staffing at different professional levels (nursing and technical).

Main Results:

• The majority of patients (42%) required intermediate care.
• The most significant time demand for nursing care (42%) was associated with intensive care patients.
• A deficit of 205 nurses was identified.
• An excess of 284 professionals at the technical college level was observed.

Conclusions:

• The current nursing staffing model is misaligned with patient care needs and regulatory standards.
• A significant restructuring of nursing personnel is required, addressing both deficits and excesses.
• Optimizing staffing based on patient complexity and time demands is essential for meeting resolution 293/2004.