Comparison of patient classification systems for dimensioning nursing staff

OBJECTIVE: To compare nursing staff workload and dimensioning measured by two patient classification systems. METHOD: Cross-sectional study, developed in a clinical inpatient unit of a large hospital in southern Brazil, between June and August 2022. Included patients (n = 260) were assessed through two different patient classification systems. The dimensioning calculation provided by the standard and descriptive statistics were applied. RESULTS: Of the total number of patients, 1,248 classifications were performed with each of the classification systems. One of the instruments showed a concentration of demand for minimal care (54.5%) and the other for intermediate care (63.4%). The anticipation of required nursing hours was discrepant (235.58 and 298.16 hours), as well as the projected nursing staff, which was of 53 and 67 workers, respectively. CONCLUSION: Measurement of workload and dimensioning were different when using two patient classification systems in the same sample. Additional accuracy studies shall be carried out.