Interruptions in the activities of intensive care nurses: cognitive repercussions on the professional and patient safety

Abstract

The aim was to analyze the interruptions in the primary activities of intensive care nurses. Exploratory research carried out in the Intensive Care Center of a university hospital, through the observation of the activities of 10 nurses. We classify the complexity of the activities considering the risk of errors and required cognitive demand. We registered 630 primary activities, of which 359 were interrupted, generating 359 secondary activities, increasing the professionals' workload by 60%. Prevalence of interruptions 0.57, average 35.9 interruptions / day, 3 interruptions / hour. The interruptions occurred: indirect technical procedures 169, direct 87, assistance management 97, from unit 3, personal activities 3. The primary activities of high complexity interrupted occurred in indirect technical procedures 99, direct 87, assistance management 49, totaling 235 interruptions. There were interruptions in the morning (171), afternoon (188), the main source being the nursing team 174. Main secondary activities recorded: informing / guiding (182), resolution / problem (39), providing material / medication (38). Disruptions were frequent in the nurses' primary activities, predominantly in those of high complexity, predisposing them to errors, compromising patient safety, in addition to increasing their workload with additional secondary activities.