Abstract

CRUZ LENDINEZ, Alfonso J. et al. Allocation of nurses by acute or Intensive Care Units in Spain. Index Enferm [online]. 2019, vol.28, n.3, pp.147-151.  Epub July 13, 2020. ISSN 1699-5988.

In the socio-demographic and economic context in which we are, it is necessary that the health systems empower health promotion and prevention and implement new strategies to assist the population. In Spain there is a significant deficit in nurses with respect to other countries of our surroundings. This deficit implies an increase in the ratio patient-nurse, which leads to an increase in the morbi-mortality of the population and an increase of the costs. The objectives of this study are to know the distribution of nurses in Spain in acute patient settings and to analyze the needs provinces, as well as to compare it with the safety ratios recommended by official bodies. To this end, a multicentric cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out during 2016. From the analysis of the data it is discovered that both at the level of the province and Autonomous Community, the average number of patients per nurse and shift is high in acute polyvalent care units, a situation that gets worse in night shifts, weekends and holidays. Therefore, no Autonomous Community fulfills the recommended ratios in all shifts. In Intensive Care Units, in all Autonomous Communities, in all shifts, they are above two patients per nurse, so they are not placed within the recommended standards either. It is necessary, together with a change of the health model, to incorporate nurses into the national health system, since this will provide economic, social and health returns.

Keywords : Nurse -patient relations; Morbidity; Mortality; Patient safety.