Info-NAS: A Computer Program for the Calculation of Intensive Care Unit Nurse Workload.

The purpose of this study was to design an algorithm that allows automatic calculation of nursing workload in intensive care units, based on the Nursing Activities Score scale, through a computer program. Three methodological steps were used: (1) Delphi method (group of experts); (2) identification of the correspondence: Nursing Activities Score items-variables in the EHR, namely, standardized terminology, laboratory values, and prescriptions; and (3) weighting of variables independently by a group of experts. Finally, the algorithm of the computer program was tested. The results showed an algorithm that calculates the nursing workload in an ICU. The calculation is objective and automatic through the EHRs. This study shows the feasibility of the algorithm as a rapid and objective strategy to quantify adequate nurse staffing in intensive care units. Moreover, it provides nurses with a practical resource for the correct completion of records and is thus an incentive to maintain or improve their quality.

COVID-19 pandemic on health professionals in a third level hospital in Spain: job changes during the first wave, mental health at 4 months, and follow-up at 9 months.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on health professionals, in terms of work changes and mental health. METHOD: 1) Cross-sectional study and 2) longitudinal prospective study on health professionals who worked directly with patients affected by COVID-19 pandemic during the period between March-June 2020 in a tertiary hospital in Barcelona. Baseline (July-November 2020) and follow-up (November 2020-March 2021) data were collected. Data related to the job and toxic habits were collected with ad hoc questionnaires, and data related to perceived stress, post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety using validated questionnaires. RESULTS: In the baseline group (cross-sectional study), 90 professionals participated, 76% nurses. More than a third were on sick leave or took drugs to manage stress. Half of smokers increased tobacco use, and one in 5 increased alcohol consumption. Habitual shift change is significantly associated with depression, professional profile with anxiety, and perceived stress with age. In the longitudinal prospective study, the follow-up group (n = 64) shows high levels of stress and anxiety, which are maintained or even significantly increased over time. CONCLUSIONS: The structural changes that occurred in the hospital during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had a strong impact on professionals, many of them presenting an increase in toxic habits, as well as impaired mental health that is maintained over time.

[COVID-19 pandemic on health professionals in a third level hospital in Spain: job changes during the first wave, mental health at 4 months, and follow-up at 9 months]. / Pandemia COVID-19 sobre profesionales sanitarios en un hospital de tercer nivel en España: cambios laborales durante la primera ola, salud mental a los 4 meses y seguimiento a los 9 meses.

Objective: To determine the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on health professionals, in terms of work changes and mental health. Method: 1) Cross-sectional study and 2) longitudinal prospective study on health professionals who worked directly with patients affected by COVID-19 pandemic during the period between March-June 2020 in a tertiary hospital in Barcelona. Baseline (July-November 2020) and follow-up (November 2020-March 2021) data were collected. Data related to the job and toxic habits were collected with ad hoc questionnaires, and data related to perceived stress, post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety using validated questionnaires. Results: In the baseline group (cross-sectional study), 90 professionals participated, 76% nurses. More than a third were on sick leave or took drugs to manage stress. Half of smokers increased tobacco use, and one in 5 increased alcohol consumption. Habitual shift change is significantly associated with depression, professional profile with anxiety, and perceived stress with age. In the longitudinal prospective study, the follow-up group (n = 64) shows high levels of stress and anxiety, which are maintained or even significantly increased over time. Conclusions: The structural changes that occurred in the hospital during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had a strong impact on professionals, many of them presenting an increase in toxic habits, as well as impaired mental health that is maintained over time.

The nurse work environment in Spanish nurses following an economic recession: From 2009 to 2014.

AIM: To detect possible changes in perception of the nurse work environment, job satisfaction and burnout between the years 2009 and 2014 among nurses working in the Spanish National Health System. BACKGROUND: The global economic crisis has had a great impact on nurses in the Spanish National Health Service: tougher working conditions, lower pay and a reduction in social benefits. It is not known whether these changes affect the nurses' work environment, job satisfaction and burnout. METHOD: Comparative, cross-sectional study performed in seven hospitals in the Spanish National Health System between 2009 and 2014, through 1,454 surveys of nurses working in internal medicine, surgery and intensive care. RESULTS: Nurses participating in the second period (2012-2014) were more satisfied with their current job (p = 0.001), perceived their work environment to be more favourable (p < 0.001) and had lower levels of burnout (p < 0.01). Professional factors as 'autonomy at work,' 'opportunities for advancement,' 'professional status' and 'nursing foundations for quality care,' as well as 'collegial nurse-physician relations' and 'nurse participation in hospital affairs' were the most important variables associated with these topics. CONCLUSIONS: Professional factors may influence these changes more than labour conditions and remuneration aspects. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: In times of economic recession, encouraging interpersonal relationships, autonomy and participation in decision-making may improve the work environment, satisfaction and burnout of nurses.