The resistance of nurses to austerity measures in the health sector during the financial crisis in Spain / La resistencia de las enfermeras a las medidas de austeridad en el sector salud durante la crisis en España

OBJECTIVE: This study explores nurses' perspectives on how the financial crisis and austerity measures introduced in the Spanish Health System affected their ability to provide care in these new circumstances. METHOD: Cross-sectional observational study. In 2013, during an international annual congress in Spain, 123 nurses out of a total of 350 attendees completed a 14-item open-ended response questionnaire to examine the perceived impact of the financial crisis and austerity measures on quality of services and their experiences at work. RESULTS: 84% of the sample were women and the mean age of the respondents was 40 (standard deviation: 11.13). Seventy-seven percent of the nurses reported austerity measures introduced in their workplace. The nurses voiced strong disagreement with austerity measures (86%), due to the negative repercussions on nurses' working conditions (47%), a decrease in human resources (37%), negative effects such as work overload (37%); a perceived deterioration in the quality of healthcare (77%) and pharmaceutical services (86%); and worsening conditions in access to health services by vulnerable populations (43%), leading to ethical dilemmas in clinical practice (26%). CONCLUSION: This study showed that nurses participating in this study overwhelmingly opposed austerity measures imposed on the National Health System as a response to the financial crisis, which had a negative effect both on nurses' working conditions and on the quality of health services. Institutional measures to improve recruitment and retention of nurses including policies for preventing stress and burnout, a decrease of patient-nurse ratio, and greater work stability should be considered

OBJETIVO: Explorar la perspectiva de las enfermeras sobre cómo la crisis financiera y las medidas de austeridad en el Sistema Nacional de Salud afectan al cuidado que prestan en España. MÉTODO: Estudio observacional transversal. Durante un congreso internacional anual celebrado en España en 2013, 123 enfermeras de un total de 350 asistentes completaron un cuestionario compuesto por 14 ítems de respuesta abierta, para examinar las consecuencias percibidas de la crisis financiera y las medidas de austeridad en la provisión de los cuidados. RESULTADOS: El 84% de la muestra eran mujeres con una media de edad de 40 años (desviación estándar: 11,13). El 77% reportó medidas de austeridad en su lugar de trabajo y el 86% mostró un fuerte desacuerdo con las medidas de austeridad debido al descenso en los recursos humanos (37%), la sobrecarga de trabajo (37%) y el deterioro de sus condiciones de trabajo (47%), de la calidad de los servicios de salud (77%) y farmacéuticos (86%), y del acceso a los servicios de salud de las poblaciones vulnerables (43%), que lleva a dilemas éticos en la práctica clínica (26%). CONCLUSIÓN: Las enfermeras que participaron en este estudio se oponían de manera abrumadora a las medidas de austeridad impuestas al Sistema Nacional de Salud como respuesta a la crisis financiera, que han tenido efecto negativo tanto en sus condiciones de trabajo como en la calidad de los servicios. Se necesitan medidas institucionales para mejorar el reclutamiento y la retención de enfermeras, incluidas políticas para prevenir el estrés y el agotamiento, una disminución de la relación paciente-enfermera y una mayor estabilidad laboral

Costs of nursing procedures/interventions: an integrative literature review.

OBJECTIVES: to analyze the scientific production of nurses regarding the costs of procedures/interventions performed by nursing professionals. METHODS: integrative literature review with a sample of 17 primary articles selected from the CINAHL, Scopus, EMBASE databases and the PubMed portal. RESULTS: all studies were conducted in hospitals, with quantitative, exploratory-descriptive studies, considering the case study method, with the description of costs method adopted, and the number of Brazilian publications stood out (12; 70.58%). The calculation of direct costs was most common due to the absence/difficulty of accessing information in the studied hospitals. This made it impossible to obtain the indirect costs that would be necessary for the composition of the total cost. CONCLUSIONS: it was shown that studies about the cost of procedures/interventions are still scarce, often covering only the calculation of direct costs. Nurses need to develop studies on such costs using the same methodology in different contexts of health care.

New Coronavirus: (Re)thinking the care process in Primary Health and Nursing.

OBJECTIVE: to reflect on the challenges and power of the nursing care process in Primary Health Care in the face of the New Coronavirus, COVID-19, in the Brazilian scenario. METHOD: reflective study, based on the discursive formulation in the context of COVID-19 in Primary Health Care, based on theoretical foundations and practical effects of neoliberal policy, the care process, and Nursing. RESULTS: in Brazil, COVID-19, has caused the need for challenges for strengthening primary care in the face of neoliberal policy, but it presents the potential of dialogue with communities and the (re)creation of the nursing care process through solidary collaborative networks. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: reflecting on the nursing care process in primary care restores the strength present in the cooperation between health teams and community solidarity networks to change social and health circumstances, despite the challenge imposed by underfunding aggravated by neoliberalism.

Data Entry Automation Improves Cost, Quality, Performance, and Job Satisfaction in a Hospital Nursing Unit.

OBJECTIVE: An Automated Data Entry Process Technology tool was developed to free nurses from data entry tasks, thus creating time for patient care and other activities associated with improvements in performance and job satisfaction. BACKGROUND: Manually transferring data from patient measurement devices to electronic health records (EHRs) is an intensive, error-prone task that diverts nurses from patient care while adversely affecting job performance and employee satisfaction. METHODS: Performance improvement analytics were used to compare matched sets of manual and automated EHR data entries for 1933 consecutive vital signs records created by 49 RNs and certified nursing assistants in a 23-bed medical-surgical unit at a large tertiary hospital. Performance and quality effects were evaluated via nurses' responses to a postintervention survey. RESULTS: Data errors decreased from approximately 20% to 0; data transfer times were reduced by 5 minutes to 2 hours per measurement event; nurses had more time for direct patient care; and job satisfaction improved. CONCLUSION: Data entry automation eliminates data errors, substantially reduces delays in getting data into EHRs, and improves job satisfaction by giving nurses more time for direct patient care. Findings are associated with improvements in quality, work performance, and job satisfaction, key goals of nursing leaders.

New Coronavirus: (Re)thinking the care process in Primary Health and Nursing / Nuevo Coronavírus: (Re)pensando el proceso de cuidar en Atención Primaria y Enfermería / Novo Coronavírus: (re)pensando o processo de cuidado na Atenção Primária à Saúde e a Enfermagem

ABSTRACT Objective: to reflect on the challenges and power of the nursing care process in Primary Health Care in the face of the New Coronavirus, COVID-19, in the Brazilian scenario. Method: reflective study, based on the discursive formulation in the context of COVID-19 in Primary Health Care, based on theoretical foundations and practical effects of neoliberal policy, the care process, and Nursing. Results: in Brazil, COVID-19, has caused the need for challenges for strengthening primary care in the face of neoliberal policy, but it presents the potential of dialogue with communities and the (re)creation of the nursing care process through solidary collaborative networks. Final considerations: reflecting on the nursing care process in primary care restores the strength present in the cooperation between health teams and community solidarity networks to change social and health circumstances, despite the challenge imposed by underfunding aggravated by neoliberalism.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Hacer una reflexión sobre los desafíos y potencias del proceso de cuidado de Enfermería en la Atención Primaria de Salud frente al nuevo Coronavirus, COVID-19, en el escenario brasileño. Método: Estudio reflexivo, fundamentado en la formulación discursiva de la COVID-19 en la Atención Primaria de Salud, con base en fundamentos teóricos y efectos prácticos de la política neoliberal sobre el proceso de cuidado de Enfermería. Resultados: La COVID-19 en Brasil ha impuesto desafíos para la Atención Primaria en razón de la política neoliberal, pero trae como potencia un mayor diálogo con las comunidades y la (re)creación del proceso de cuidado de Enfermería, a través de redes colaborativas solidarias. Consideraciones Finales: Esta reflexión fortalece la cooperación entre equipos de salud y redes solidarias comunitarias, en la búsqueda de mejorías en lo social y en la salud, ante los desafíos impuestos por la política neoliberal.

RESUMO Objetivo: refletir sobre desafios e potências do processo de cuidado de enfermagem na Atenção Primária à Saúde diante do Novo Coronavírus, COVID-19, no contexto brasileiro. Método: estudo reflexivo, fundamentado na formulação discursiva no contexto da COVID-19 na Atenção Primária à Saúde, com base em fundamentos teóricos e efeitos práticos da política neoliberal, do processo de cuidado e da Enfermagem. Resultados e Discussão: a COVID-19, no Brasil, tem imposto os desafios do fortalecimento da atenção primária em face à política neoliberal, mas apresenta como potência o diálogo com as comunidades e a (re)criação do processo de cuidado de enfermagem por meio das redes colaborativas solidárias. Considerações finais: refletir sobre o processo de cuidado de enfermagem na atenção primária restabelece a força presente na cooperação entre equipes de saúde e redes solidárias comunitárias para mudar situações sociais e de saúde, a despeito do desafio imposto pelo subfinanciamento agravado pelo neoliberalismo.

Fee Payment System for Nursing Performance: An operational proposal through the use of I.C.A. (Indexes of Complexity of Assistance) methodology.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of a possible fee system based on the performance of the nursing function, validating the theoretical and methodological assumption of an economic analysis for nursing. METHOD: The I.C.A. Methodology (Indexes of Complexity of Assistance) was chosen as a system able to produce the reading, in an economic sense, of nursing performance to a sufficiently accurate degree, by its use of "assistance settings" and "nursing assistance plans". For the planning of assistance, the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) was used, as it is a validated and shared language. For the cost of each single operation/intervention and recovery, the "weight intervention" algorithm of the I.C.A. methodology was used. This research project was carried out in the form of a pilot study which investigated a sample of 30 patients, and a multi-center cross-sectional and observational retrospective study conducted on a sample of 135 patients coming from three Region of Liguria Hospitals.   Results: The study was concerned with 165 cases. It highlighted 65 D.R.G.s, of which 17 were selected, containing comprehensively 61 cases. The results obtained confirm that it is possible to use this proposed approach to calculate the direct and indirect costs of nursing activity, and that it is also possible to compare it to the present D.R.G. system. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to create a multidisciplinary payment system for a patient's care. This must be able to monitor the whole treatment process, and therefore all of the activities carried out for the patient's benefit. The present D.R.G. system is not able to register the care provided by nursing services.

Neoliberalist influences on nursing hospital work process and organization.

OBJECTIVES:: To describe and analyze the influence of the neoliberal economic and political model on the nursing hospital work process and organization. METHOD:: Qualitative descriptive research, having as its scenery a university hospital. The subjects were 34 nursing workers. The data collection took place from March to July 2013, through semi-structured interview. The data treatment technique used was content analysis, which brought up the following category: working conditions precariousness and its consequences to the hospital work process and organization in the neoliberal context. RESULTS:: The consequences of neoliberalism on hospital work process and organization were highlighted, being observed physical structure, human resources and material inadequacies that harms the assistance quality. In addition to wage decrease that cause the need of second jobs and work overload. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS:: There is a significant influence of the neoliberal model on hospital work, resulting on working conditions precariousness. OBJETIVOS:: Descrever e analisar a influência do modelo econômico e político neoliberal na organização e no processo de trabalho hospitalar de enfermagem. MÉTODO:: Pesquisa qualitativa e descritiva, tendo como cenário um hospital universitário. Os participantes foram 34 trabalhadores de enfermagem. A coleta ocorreu de março a julho de 2013, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada. A técnica de tratamento dos dados foi a análise de conteúdo, que fez emergir a seguinte categoria: precarização das condições laborais e suas repercussões para organização e processo de trabalho hospitalar no contexto neoliberal. RESULTADOS:: Evidenciaram-se repercussões do neoliberalismo na organização e no processo de trabalho hospitalar, verificando-se inadequações na estrutura física, nos recursos humanos e materiais, que afetavam a qualidade da assistência. Além de perdas salariais que levam à necessidade de outros empregos e sobrecarga de trabalho. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS:: Há forte influência do modelo neoliberal no trabalho hospitalar, resultando na precarização das condições laborais.

Direct cost of development and documentation of the nursing process.

OBJECTIVE: identify the average direct cost (ADC) of the activities performed by nursing professionals in the nursing process development and documentation at the medical clinic of a teaching hospital. METHOD: 1040 activities were observed and the ADC was calculated by multiplying the time spent by professionals by the unit cost of direct labor. RESULTS: the ADC of patient admission was R$ 55.57 (SD=19.44); among the activities of patient follow-up, the assessment phase documentation had the most significant ADC (R$ 17.70 - SD=14.60); the ADC of descriptive records corresponded to R$ 1.21 (SD=1.21) and the ADC of the nursing team for shift change was R$ 54.23 (SD=28.95). CONCLUSION: the study promotes visibility of the work performed by nursing professionals in the development of the nursing process, providing financial data to ensure consistent arguments for proper resources to its feasibility.

A Trial of Nursing Cost Accounting using Nursing Practice Data on a Hospital Information System.

Hospital administration is very important and many hospitals carry out activity-based costing under comprehensive medicine. However, nursing cost is unclear, because nursing practice is expanding both quantitatively and qualitatively and it is difficult to grasp all nursing practices, and nursing cost is calculated in many cases comprehensively. On the other hand, a nursing information system (NIS) is implemented in many hospitals in Japan and we are beginning to get nursing practical data. In this paper, we propose a nursing cost accounting model and we simulate a cost by nursing contribution using NIS data.

Custo direto da condução e documentação do processo de enfermagem / Costo directo de la conducción y documentación del proceso de enfermería / Direct cost of development and documentation of the nursing process

RESUMOObjetivo:identificar o custo direto médio (CDM) das atividades realizadas por profissionais de enfermagem visando à condução e documentação do Processo de Enfermagem na Unidade de Clínica Médica de um hospital universitário.Método:foram observadas 1040 atividades e calculado o CDM multiplicando-se o tempo despendido pelos profissionais pelo custo unitário da mão de obra direta.Resultados:o CDM da admissão do paciente correspondeu a R$ 55,57 (DP ±19,44); dentre as atividades de seguimento dos pacientes a documentação do Histórico de Enfermagem representou o CDM mais impactante (R$ 17,70, DP=14,60); o CDM das anotações descritivas correspondeu a R$ 1,21 (DP=1,21) e o CDM da equipe de enfermagem para passagem de plantão foi de R$ 54,23 (DP=28,95).Conclusão:o estudo contribui para conferir visibilidade à atuação dos profissionais de enfermagem na condução do Processo de Enfermagem fornecendo elementos financeiros para argumentação consistente quanto aos recursos adequados à sua exequibilidade.

RESUMENObjetivo:identificar el coste directo medio (CDM) de las actividades realizadas por los profesionales de enfermería en la conducción y documentación del proceso de enfermería en la Unidad de Clínica Médica de un hospital universitario.Método:se observaron 1040 actividades y se calculó el CDM multiplicando el tiempo dedicado por los profesionales por el costo de la mano de obra directa.Resultados:la admisión CDM paciente fue de R$ 55,57 (SD=19,44); entre las actividades de seguimiento de los pacientes a la documentación de la evaluación fue lo CDM más impactante (R$ 17,70, SD=14,60); el CDM de anotaciones descriptivas correspondió a R$ 1,21 (SD=1,21) y el CDM del cambio de turno de enfermería fue de R$ 54,23 (SD=28,95).Conclusión:el estudio contribuye a dar visibilidad a la labor de los profesionales de enfermería en la realización del Proceso de Enfermería proporcionando datos financieros coherentes a su viabilidad.

ABSTRACTObjective:identify the average direct cost (ADC) of the activities performed by nursing professionals in the nursing process development and documentation at the medical clinic of a teaching hospital.Method:1040 activities were observed and the ADC was calculated by multiplying the time spent by professionals by the unit cost of direct labor.Results:the ADC of patient admission was R$ 55.57 (SD=19.44); among the activities of patient follow-up, the assessment phase documentation had the most significant ADC (R$ 17.70 - SD=14.60); the ADC of descriptive records corresponded to R$ 1.21 (SD=1.21) and the ADC of the nursing team for shift change was R$ 54.23 (SD=28.95).Conclusion:the study promotes visibility of the work performed by nursing professionals in the development of the nursing process, providing financial data to ensure consistent arguments for proper resources to its feasibility.

Evaluating a novel approach to enhancing dysphagia management: workplace-based, blended e-learning.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the learning effect and resource use cost of workplace-based, blended e-learning about dysphagia for stroke rehabilitation nurses. BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is a potentially life-threatening problem that compromises quality of life. In many countries, nurses play a crucial role in supporting the management of patients with swallowing problems, yet the literature reports a need for training. DESIGN: A single-group, pre- and post-study with mixed methods. METHODS: Each blended e-learning session comprised a needs analysis, e-learning programmes, practical skills about modifying fluids and action planning to transfer learning into practice. Participants were the population of registered nurses (n = 22) and healthcare assistants (n = 10) on a stroke rehabilitation ward in a large, teaching hospital in England between August 2010-March 2011. Data collection comprised observation (34 hours), questionnaires administered at four time points to examine change in attitude, knowledge and practice, and estimating the resource use cost for the service. Nonparametric tests and content analysis were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: All participants achieved a nationally recognised level of competence. The learning effect was evident on the post- and follow-up measures, with some items of dysphagia knowledge and attitude achieving significance at the p ≤ 0·05 level. The most common self-reported changes in practice related to medicines management, thickening fluids and oral hygiene. The resource use cost was estimated at £2688 for 108 hours training. CONCLUSIONS: Workplace-based, blended e-learning was an acceptable, cost effective way of delivering essential clinical knowledge and skills about dysphagia. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Dysphagia should be viewed as a patient safety issue because of the risks of malnutrition, dehydration and aspiration pneumonia. As such, it is pertinent to many members of the interdisciplinary team. Consideration should be given to including dysphagia management in initial education and continuing professional development programmes.

An effective process for making decisions about major operating room purchases.

In today's economy, it is imperative that nurses exhibit stewardship for their organization's resources and help ensure that purchasing decisions are sound. Regardless of the decision-making method chosen, a formal, consistent review process that evaluates cost, compares products, examines implications, analyzes risk, uses evidence, and includes safety and outcome measures is vital to success. Clinical Quality Value Analysis (CQVA) is a product evaluation platform that can be used to determine whether a proposed product or service will add value to the organization as well as improve patient outcomes. Using CQVA for a proposed product or service is a five-step process: assess, plan, design, implement, and measure/sustain.