Dimensioning of hospital nursing personnel: study with brazilian official parameters of 2004 and 2017

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To investigate the dimensions of the nursing team of a hospital unit according to the official Brazilian parameters of 2004 and 2017 and compare the dimensioned conditions to the actual condition existing. Method: A cross-sectional study with data from patients (n = 325) hospitalized in the Neurology and Orthopedics unit of a university hospital in Paraná, Brazil. Data from the Patient Classification System related to nursing work, as well as sociodemographic and clinical variables of the clientele were compiled. The dimensioning of the nursing staff followed the Federal Nursing Council Resolutions of 2004 and 2017. Results: The profile of the patients showed predominantly men (66.46%) hospitalized for Orthopedics (49.58%). The negative difference of professionals dimensioned compared to the actual condition was more evident for the category of nurses, below both the parameters of 2004 (-8) and 2017 (-11). Conclusions: The number of nursing staff in the unit was insufficient.