[Impact of nursing staff shortage on intensive care medicine capacity in Germany].
Auswirkungen des Pflegepersonalmangels auf die intensivmedizinische Versorgungskapazität in Deutschland.
Critical care
Emergency care
Personnel management
Personnel staffing and scheduling
Structural requirements
Journal
Medizinische Klinik, Intensivmedizin und Notfallmedizin
ISSN: 2193-6226
Titre abrégé: Med Klin Intensivmed Notfmed
Pays: Germany
ID NLM: 101575086
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
May 2019
May 2019
Historique:
received:
27
02
2018
accepted:
01
04
2018
revised:
25
03
2018
pubmed:
11
7
2018
medline:
16
7
2019
entrez:
11
7
2018
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Compared to other countries, Germany has the highest number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds, but, despite this, a shortage in ICU care is evident. Currently, little comprehensive data on ICU staffing and on subsequent closure of ICU beds are available. The current survey therefore aimed to systematically investigate the closure of ICU beds. A survey was performed among authorized professional trainers in ICU medicine. Overall, a shortage of ICU beds following bed closure was evident in 76% of all ICU floors with 22% reporting daily ICU bed closure. In 47%, two ICU beds were not available. Emergency care was unrestricted in only 18%, while restrictions were reportedly frequent or even constant in 30%. The main reasons for ICU bed closure were the unavailability of ICU nurses (44%) and the co-existing unavailability of nurses and physicians (19%). On average, the nurse/patient ratio was 1:2.5 in the morning, 1:2.6 in the afternoon, and 1:3.1 in the night shift. ICU bed closure regularly occurs in Germany. The underlying main reason has been identified to be the unavailability of ICU nursing staff. This is suggested to directly interfere with emergency care. For this reason, an action plan is urgently needed.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Compared to other countries, Germany has the highest number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds, but, despite this, a shortage in ICU care is evident. Currently, little comprehensive data on ICU staffing and on subsequent closure of ICU beds are available. The current survey therefore aimed to systematically investigate the closure of ICU beds.
METHOD
METHODS
A survey was performed among authorized professional trainers in ICU medicine.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Overall, a shortage of ICU beds following bed closure was evident in 76% of all ICU floors with 22% reporting daily ICU bed closure. In 47%, two ICU beds were not available. Emergency care was unrestricted in only 18%, while restrictions were reportedly frequent or even constant in 30%. The main reasons for ICU bed closure were the unavailability of ICU nurses (44%) and the co-existing unavailability of nurses and physicians (19%). On average, the nurse/patient ratio was 1:2.5 in the morning, 1:2.6 in the afternoon, and 1:3.1 in the night shift.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
ICU bed closure regularly occurs in Germany. The underlying main reason has been identified to be the unavailability of ICU nursing staff. This is suggested to directly interfere with emergency care. For this reason, an action plan is urgently needed.
Identifiants
pubmed: 29987337
doi: 10.1007/s00063-018-0457-3
pii: 10.1007/s00063-018-0457-3
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
ger
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
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