Nursing interventions in pediatric care: a contribution to measuring workload

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Pediatric Healthcare
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Nursing teams perform numerous activities in pediatric units.
• Accurate identification and classification of these activities are crucial for workload assessment.
• Standardized classification systems like the Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) are essential for consistent data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and validate nursing interventions and activities within a Brazilian pediatric unit.
• To map identified activities to the Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) system.
• To provide a basis for workload measurement and professional team sizing in pediatrics.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional, and observational study design was employed.
• Data were collected through patient chart reviews and direct observation of nursing activities.
• Identified activities were mapped and validated against the Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC).

Main Results:

• Initially, 275 activities were identified, mapping to 63 interventions across 22 NIC classes and 7 NIC domains.
• Post-validation, 244 activities remained, corresponding to 53 interventions, 20 NIC classes, and 6 NIC domains.
• The study also categorized associated and personal activities performed by the nursing team.

Conclusions:

• Identifying and validating nursing interventions is vital for accurate workload assessment in pediatric units.
• This process aids in overcoming challenges related to operationalizing professional team sizing.
• The findings contribute to evidence-based practice in pediatric nursing and healthcare management.