The identification of nursing interventions in primary health care: a parameter for personnel staffing

Abstract

In Primary Health Care (PHC) there is empirical planning regarding the nursing staff, which causes a distortion between personnel distribution and the real needs of the health units. The objective was to identify the nursing interventions at the PHC that support personnel staffing. The following sources were: literature review of databases from 1999-2009; field observation at a Family Health Unit; survey of family forms; mapping of nursing activities and interventions according to the Nursing Interventions Classification; and validation of these interventions. A total of 169 activities were identified: 11 associated activities; five personnel activities and 153 direct and indirect care giving activities validated in seven domains, 15 classes and 46 NIC interventions. The study allowed for recognition of the nursing practices at the PHC by means of a standardized language, providing support for its application in the creation of instruments to identify the nursing workload.