The Liaison Nurses worked in hospitals with bed
numbers ranging from 100 to 700 (mean 391). ICU
bed numbers ranged from five to 48 (mean 17.5).
Of the ICUs, 15% were level I, 22% were level II
and 63% level III. Most of the Liaison Nurses (82.1%)
had a Graduate Certificate or Diploma in intensive
care nursing. The length of time the Liaison
Nurse services had been available ranged from two
months to more than 13 years. The operation times
of the Liaison Nurse service ranged from one to 24 h
(mean 9.5, SD 5.01) per day. Sixty percent provided
the service during business hours (08:00—18:30);
eight percent after hours (18:30—23:00); with the
remaining 32 percent offering services in and out of
business hours (08:00—22:00).