Analysis of admissions to intensive care units that could be supported on an intermediate care unit.

BACKGROUND: Only one third of European countries use intermediate care units (IMCs). An IMC makes it possible to manage patients who do not require intensive care but who need a higher level of nursing care that cannot be provided on the general ward. In Belgium, there are no national criteria for ICU admission or discharge, and no policies regarding IMC care or for differentiating ICU intensity levels. AIM/S: The aim of our study was to analyse the profile of ICU patients in Belgium on the basis of registered nursing activity in order to quantify the number of ICU days potentially transferable to an IMC. STUDY DESIGN: The study was conducted on 310 ICU beds. Patients admitted to the study were recruited during two different one-month periods in 2018 and were included into a prospective database that evaluated nursing workload carried out in 15 hospitals in the French-speaking part of Belgium. The number of ICU days that could be supported on an IMC was defined according to the Nursing Activities Score (NAS) items. RESULTS: A total of 3279 ICU patients for a total of 13 942 ICU days were included. 4987 days (35.8%) were considered as "transferable" to an IMC. The proportion of ICU days transferable to an IMC was highly variable among hospitals, ranging from 20.4% to 59.5% of all ICU days. On the day of ICU admission, 665/2142 (31.0%) of the patients were already identified as transferable to an IMC; this percentage significantly increased on day 2 (972/2066, 47.1%) and day 3 (650/1390, 46.7%). CONCLUSIONS: In Belgian ICUs, 35.8% of ICU hospital days, as per recorded NAS, do not necessitate intensive monitoring. These 35.8% of days of ICU hospitalization could be supported on an IMC. RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: In this study, a significant number of days spent in the ICU could be supported on an IMC, this could alleviate the workload of nurses and reduce the occupancy rate of intensive care units.

Analysis of Nursing Staff Management for a Semi-intensive Pulmonology Unit During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using the Nursing Activities Score.

OBJECTIVES: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage of intensive care unit beds was encountered across Europe. Opening a semi-intensive pulmonary ward freed up intensive care unit beds. This study aimed to determine the appropriate nurse staffing level for a semi-intensive pulmonology unit (SIPU) for patients with COVID-19 and to identify factors associated with an increase in nursing workload in this type of unit. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of the SIPU of the Erasme university clinics in Belgium. Nursing staff was determined with the Nursing Activities Score (NAS) during the second wave of COVID-19 in Belgium. RESULTS: During the study period, 59 patients were admitted to the SIPU, and a total of 416 NAS scores were encoded. The mean (±SD) NAS was 70.3% (±16.6%). Total NAS varied significantly depending on the reason for admission: respiratory distress (mean [SD] NAS, 71.6% [±13.9%]) or critical illness-related weakness (65.1% ± 10.9%). The items encoded were significantly different depending on the reason for admission. In multivariate analysis, body mass index > 30 (odds ratio [OR], 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-3.30) and higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II score (OR, 1.05; 95 CI, 1.02-1.11) were associated with higher NAS. Patients admitted via the emergency department (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.15-5.22) had higher NAS. Patients on noninvasive ventilation (OR, 13.65; 95% CI, 3.76-49.5) and oxygen therapy (OR, 4.29; 95% CI, 1.27-14.48) had higher NAS. High peripheral venous oxygen saturation (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78-0.94) was a predictor of lower workload. CONCLUSION: A ratio of 2 nurses to 3 patients is necessary for SIPU care of patients with COVID-19. Factors associated with higher workload were high Simplified Acute Physiology Score II score, body mass index > 30, admission via emergency room, patients on oxygen, and noninvasive ventilation.

Association between nursing cost and patient outcomes in intensive care units: A retrospective cohort study of Belgian hospitals.

INTRODUCTION: Hospitals with better nursing resources report more favourable patient outcomes with almost no difference in cost as compared to those with worse nursing resources. The aim of this study was to assess the association between nursing cost per intensive care unit bed and patient outcomes (mortality, readmission, and length of stay). METHODOLOGY: This was a retrospective cohort study using data collected from the intensive care units of 17 Belgian hospitals from January 01 to December 31, 2018. Hospitals were dichotomized using median annual nursing cost per bed. A total of 18,235 intensive care unit stays were included in the study with 5,664 stays in the low-cost nursing group and 12,571 in the high-cost nursing group. RESULTS: The rate of high length of stay outliers in the intensive care unit was significantly lower in the high-cost nursing group (9.2% vs 14.4%) compared to the low-cost nursing group. Intensive care unit readmission was not significantly different in the two groups. Mortality was lower in the high-cost nursing group for intensive care unit (9.9% vs 11.3%) and hospital (13.1% vs 14.6%) mortality. The nursing cost per intensive care bed was different in the two groups, with a median [IQR] cost of 159,387€ [140,307-166,690] for the low-cost nursing group and 214,032€ [198,094-230,058] for the high-cost group. In multivariate analysis, intensive care unit mortality (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.69-0.92, p < 0.0001), in-hospital mortality (OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.72-0.93, p < 0.0001), and high length of stay outliers (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.42-0.55, p < 0.0001) were lower in the high-cost nursing group. However, there was no significant effect on intensive care readmission between the two groups (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 0.97-1.51, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that higher-cost nursing per bed was associated with significantly lower intensive care unit and in-hospital mortality rates, as well as fewer high length of stay outliers, but had no significant effect on readmission to the intensive care unit. .

Development of a Medium Care Unit Using an Inexperienced Respiratory Staff: Lessons Learned during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The different waves of the COVID-19 pandemic caused dramatic issues regarding the organization of care. In this context innovative solutions have to be developed in a timely manner to adapt to the organization of the care. The establishment of middle care (MC) units is a bright example of such an adaptation. A multidisciplinary MC team, including expert and non-expert respiratory health care personnel, was developed and trained to work in a COVID-19 MC unit. Important educational resources were set up to ensure rapid and effective training of the MC team, limiting the admission or delaying transfers to ICU and ensuring optimal management of palliative care. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patient data in the MC unit during the second COVID-19 wave in Belgium. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of quickly developing an effective respiratory MC unit mixing respiratory expert and non-expert members from outside ICUs. The establishment of an MC unit during a pandemic is feasible and needed. MC units possibly relieve the pressure exerted on ICUs. A highly trained multidisciplinary team is key to ensuring the success of an MC unit during such kind of a pandemic.

Associations between two nursing workload scales and the cost of intensive care unit nursing staff: A retrospective study of one Belgian hospital.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess associations between a general nursing funding scale and an intensive care unit specific nursing workload scale and the cost of nursing staff. BACKGROUND: Nurse staffing represents the most important cost in the intensive care unit, so it is essential to evaluate it accurately. In addition, the assessment of nursing workload is important for the daily management of the intensive care unit and to ensure quality of care. METHODS: This was a retrospective and quantitative study carried out in the intensive care unit of a Belgian hospital. The extraction of data from the Nursing Activities Score and the Minimum Hospital Summary Nursing Dataset were carried out during 2 periods of 15 days, from 1 June 2018 to 15 June 2018 and from 1 September 2018 to 15 September 2018. RESULTS: A total of 234 patients were included in the study. A total of 773 Nursing Activities Score and Minimum Hospital Summary Nursing Dataset recordings were analyzed in the study per intensive care unit day. A strong correlation was observed between Nursing Activities Score and Minimum Hospital Summary Nursing Dataset for the entire intensive care unit stay with a rho (95% CI) of .88 (0.83-.93); however, the correlation was moderate per intensive care unit day with a rho of .51 (0.45-0.57). A strong association was observed between the Minimum Hospital Summary Nursing Dataset and the Nursing Activities Score with the costs of intensive care unit nurses with a rho (95% CI) of .78 (0.72-0.86) and .74 (0.65-0.84), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A general nursing funding scale in Belgium was strongly correlated with the nursing workload for the whole intensive care unit stay, but this correlation was moderate per intensive care unit day. In contrast, both scales showed a good correlation with intensive care unit nursing costs. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: In Belgium, a general funding scale for nurses does not allow for an assessment of the nursing workload in the intensive care unit. The Nursing Activities Score is strongly correlated with the cost of nursing staff in the intensive care unit. The authors recommend that the Belgian authorities carry out this type of study in several intensive care units in the country and eventually replace the general funding scale for nurses with the Nursing Activities Score.

Prevalence of burnout risk and factors associated with burnout risk among ICU nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak in French speaking Belgium.

OBJECTIVE: Burnout is a global work-related phenomenon. Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses are at risk of burnout and the COVID-19 pandemic may increase this risk. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of burnout risk and identify risk factors among ICU nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: Web-based survey performed during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in French speaking Belgium. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk of burnout was assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory scale. RESULTS: A total of 1135 ICU nurses responded to the questionnaire. The overall prevalence of burnout risk was 68%. A total of 29% of ICU nurses were at risk of depersonalisation (DP), 31% of reduced personal accomplishment (PA), and 38% of emotional exhaustion (EE). A 1:3 nurse-to-patient ratio increased the risk of EE (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.07-2.95) and DP (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.09-2.40). Those who reported having a higher perceived workload during the COVID-19 pandemic were at higher risk for all dimensions of burnout. Shortage of personal protective equipment increased the risk of EE (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.35-3.34) and nurses who reported having symptoms of COVID-19 without being tested were at higher risk of EE (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.68-1.87). CONCLUSIONS: Two-thirds of ICU nurses were at risk of burnout and this risk was associated with their working conditions during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We recommend monitoring the risk of burnout and implementing interventions to prevent and manage it, taking into account the factors identified in this study.

Impact of COVID-19 on nursing time in intensive care units in Belgium.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on nursing practice in intensive care unit and consequently, on workload. OBJECTIVE: To assess the nurse-patient ratio required by COVID-19 patients and to identify the factors that influence nursing in this context. DESIGN: This study was a retrospective observational study that evaluated the ratio using the Nursing Activities Score (NAS). SETTING: Three Belgian French-speaking hospitals, including five ICUs. Patients included COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The study included 95 COVID-19 patients and 1604 non-COVID-19 patients (control group) resulting in 905 and 5453 NAS measures, respectively. The NAS was significantly higher among the COVID-19 patients than in the control group (p = <0.0001). In the COVID-19 group, these higher scores were also observed per shift and uniformly across the three hospitals. COVID-19 patients required more time in the activities of monitoring and titration (χ2 = 457.60, p = <0.0001), mobilisation (χ2 = 161.21, p = <0.0001), and hygiene (χ2 = 557.77, p = <0.0001). Factors influencing nursing time measured by NAS in the COVID-19 patients were age <65 years old (p = 0.23), the use of continuous venovenous hemofiltration (p = 0.002), a high APACHE II score (p = 0.006) and patient death (p = 0.002). A COVID-19 diagnosis was independently associated with an increase in nursing time (OR = 4.8, 95% CI:3.6-6.4). CONCLUSIONS: Patients hospitalised in the ICU due to COVID-19 require significantly more nursing time and need an average ratio of almost 1:1.

Measuring the nursing workload in intensive care with the Nursing Activities Score (NAS): A prospective study in 16 hospitals in Belgium.

PURPOSE: The evaluation of nursing workload is a common practice in intensive care units (ICUs). It allows the calculation of an optimal nurse/patient ratio (N/P) which is a major challenge to ensuring the quality of care while controlling the costs of health care. The objectives of this study were, therefore, to evaluate the N/P ratio and to study nursing activities in intensive care in French-speaking Belgium. METHODS: The Nursing Activities Score (NAS) was prospectively recorded by shift for two periods of one month each in 16 French-speaking Belgian hospitals for a total of 316 ICU beds in 24 ICUs. RESULTS: We included 3377 patients in the study, of which 64% were medical (versus surgical). The results for 24-hour NAS (68.6%) were significantly different from the NAS per shift (Morning: 61.3%, Afternoon: 58.4%, Night: 55.0%). Outliers were significantly more prevalent among men and patients who died and outliers had longer stays in the ICU. Finally, mobilization-positioning and clinical-administrative tasks took, on average, more time for nurses in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant difference in N/P ratio between the Belgian regulation (1/3) and the one calculated by the NAS (1/1.5). A systematic objective assessment of shift workload should be done to avoid N/P ratio differences in intensive care.