Nursing activities in intensive care units in Turkey

This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine applications practiced by nurses working in intensive care units of various institutions in Turkey. The research setting was neurosurgery, surgery, coronary and general intensive care units. The population of the study comprised nurses working in intensive care units, which were under the scope of this study, and these nurses' functions were studied. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Cheltenham Patient Classification Scale and Nursing Activity List. It was observed that nurses spend most of their time on direct nursing care, clerical nursing duties and patient assessment. The most frequent activities included recording observations, calculating fluid balance, recording ventilator parameters, talking to patients, conversation not task orientated, drug preparation and administration. Although nurses spend most of their time on direct nursing care, they might also be obliged to get around to activities not in relation with direct patient care.