Is Nurse Workforce Sufficient in Intensive Care Units in Turkey? Results of the Multicenter Karia Study
Journal Title: Mediterranean Journal of Infection, Microbes and Antimicrobials - Year 2017, Vol 6, Issue 1
Abstract
Introduction: In this multicenter study, we analysed the magnitude of healthcare worker (HCW) [infection control practitioner (ICP), nurses and others] workforce in hospitals participated in the study. Materials and Methods: This study was performed in 41 hospitals (with intensive care units-ICU) located in 22 cities from seven regions of Turkey. We analysed the ICP workforce, nursing and auxiliary HCW (AHCW) workforce in ICUs, number of ICU beds and occupied beds in four different days [two of which were in summer during the vacation time (August 27 and 31, 2016) and two others in autumn (October 12 and 15, 2016)]. The Turkish Ministry of Health (TMOH) requires two patients per nurse in level 3 ICUs, three patients per nurse in level 2 ICUs and five patients per nurse in level 1 ICUs. There is no standardization for the number of AHCW in ICUs. Finally, one ICP per 150 hospital beds is required by TMOH. Results: The total number of ICUs, ICU beds and ICPs were 214, 2377 and 111, respectively in he 41 participated centers. The number ICPs was adequate only in 12 hospitals. The percentage of nurses whose working experience was <1 year, was; 19% in level 1 ICUs, 25% in level 2 ICUs and 24% in level 3 ICUs. The number of patients per nurse was mostly <5 in level 1 ICUs whereas the number of patients per nurse in level 3 ICUs was generally >2. The number of patients per other HCW was minimum 3.75 and maximum 4.89 on weekdays and on day shift while it was minimum 5.02 and maximum 7.7 on weekends or on night shift. When we compared the number of level 1, 2 and 3 ICUs with adequate nursing workforce vs inadequate nursing workforce, the p value was <0.0001 at all time points except summer weekend night shift (p=0.002). Conclusion: Our data suggest that ICP workforce is inadequate in Turkey. Besides, HCW workforce is inadequate and almost ¼ of nurses are relatively inexperienced especially in level 3 ICUs. Turkish healthcare system should promptly make necessary arrangements for adequate HCW staffing.
Authors and Affiliations
Ayşe UYAN, Gül DURMUŞ, Nurbanu SEZAK, Fatmanur PEPE, Türkkan KAYGUSUZ, Nefise ÖZTOPRAK, Kevser ÖZDEMİR, Firdevs AKSOY, Serpil EROL, Meliha Meriç KOÇ, Ahsen ÖNCÜL, Sabahat ÇAĞAN AKTAŞ, Hülya ÇAŞKURLU, Güven ÇELEBİ, Özlem KANDEMİR, Selçuk ÖZGER, Rezan HARMAN, Kübra DEMİRAY, Alpay ARI, Sevil ALKAN ÇEVİKER, İlknur ESEN YILDIZ, Şirin MENEKŞE, Güneş ŞENOL, Sema SARI, Mustafa DOĞAN, Kenan UĞURLU, Mustafa ARSLAN, İrem AKDEMİR, Pınar FIRAT, Yeşim KÜREKÇİ, Derya ÇAĞLAYAN, Mehmet UÇAR, Ramazan GÖZÜKÜÇÜK, Habibe Tülin ELMASLAR MERT, Handan ALAY, Haluk ERDOĞAN, Aslıhan DEMİREL, Nilgün DOĞAN, Funda KOÇAK, Emre GÜVEN, Güleser ÜNSAL, Hilal SİPAHİ, Meltem IŞIKGÖZ TAŞBAKAN, Bilgin ARDA, Sercan ULUSOY, Oğuz Reşat SİPAHİ
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP689365
- DOI 10.4274/mjima.2017.20
- Views 122
- Downloads 0
A Rare Cause of Brain Abscess: Streptomyces spp.
No Abstract
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy Presenting with Bilateral Myoclonus: A Case Report
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by John Cunningham virus lytic infection of the oligodendrocytes, the myelin-producing cells in the C...
Not So Innocent: Thrombocytopenia After One Dose of Rifampicin
No Abstract
Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis: An Update
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the most frequent cause of sporadic infective encephalitis in adults. Despite antiviral therapies, the case fatality rate is moderate to high (5 to 30% according studies and countries). Tool...
Pooled Analysis of 86 Published Spinal Hydatid Cyst Cases From Turkey
Introduction: Spinal hydatid cyst (SHC) is a difficult to treat parasitic infectious disease with high risk of recurrence. Similar with HC the visceral organs, there are no standard treatment protocols for SHC. The aim o...