[Nursing workload and nurse-patient ratio in intensive, subintensive and postintensive care units]

2710 patients were admitted during 1988 in 14 ICU of a crowded urban area. We determined nursing workload and nurse/patient ratio applying the TOSS score at the end of the 1st and 9th day of ICU stay. 1934 patients were admitted for intensive treatment, the mean nursing need was 805 min/day ranging from 744 to 946 min/24 h meaning a N/P ratio 1:1 or slightly less. 766 sub-intensive patients admitted for intensive monitoring needed 481 min/24 h of nursing (range 411-546) meaning 1:2 1:3 N/P ratio. The score at the 9th day, showed 263 post-intensive patients who needed 501 min (422 to 603 min), significantly higher than the sub-intensive need. We discuss these indications according to the official guidelines on this topic stated by the Minister of Public Health.