ABSTRACT
Objective
To classify the level of complexity of care required from Nursing by hospitalized oncology patients.
Methods
This is an observational, sectional, quantitative study, carried out daily with oncology patients in the Clinical and Surgical Oncology inpatient units of a cancer treatment reference hospital during a three-month period. The collection was carried out through the application of a semi-structured questionnaire and an instrument of patient classification by Fugulin et al. (2007).
Results
242 patients were interviewed and 1309 evaluations were performed, with a greater number of males and those with incomplete elementary school education. There was a higher occurrence of cancer in the gastrointestinal system and female reproductive system, respectively, in the admission of Clinical and Surgical Oncology, with higher occupancy rate in the months of June and May, in that order. The behavior observed was quite similar in both admissions, corresponding, respectively, to patients who fell into minimal (33.1%; 35.1%) and intermediate care (30.2%; 37.5%).
Conclusion and implications for practice
The patient classification and dimensioning system in Nursing in oncology deserves further discussion and lacks validated instruments capable of representing the real situation of care.
Keywords:
Human Resource Management in Hospitals; Classification; Nursing Care; Personnel Dimensioning; Oncology