METHODSThis cross-sectional retrosp

METHODSThis cross-sectional retrospective study was based on data obtained from medical records of patients within the first 48 hours after admission to surgical, clinical or intensive care units. The study was conducted during May and June 2005, in a medium-sized general hospital in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and included data recorded during the second semester of 2004. Records of patients over 18 years old, admitted for clinical or surgical treatment, with at least 48 hours of hospitalization in surgical, clinical, or intensive care units, were included in the study. Data obtained for patients in the three different units were compared to evaluate the implementation of the nursing process by nurses allocated to those wards at the same hospital. The form used for data collection was based on reports in the literature(2) and includes data on the health history and complete physical examination. In this study, we defined that a systematic "head-to-toe" physical assessment(2) should be performed upon admittance and daily during the hospitalization period. Data were collected by the same professional (S.P.), who is the nurse in charge of the continued education program at the institution.

METHODS

This cross-sectional retrospective study was based on data obtained from medical records of patients within the first 48 hours after admission to surgical, clinical or intensive care units. The study was conducted during May and June 2005, in a medium-sized general hospital in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and included data recorded during the second semester of 2004. Records of patients over 18 years old, admitted for clinical or surgical treatment, with at least 48 hours of hospitalization in surgical, clinical, or intensive care units, were included in the study. Data obtained for patients in the three different units were compared to evaluate the implementation of the nursing process by nurses allocated to those wards at the same hospital. The form used for data collection was based on reports in the literature(2) and includes data on the health history and complete physical examination. In this study, we defined that a systematic "head-to-toe" physical assessment(2) should be performed upon admittance and daily during the hospitalization period. Data were collected by the same professional (S.P.), who is the nurse in charge of the continued education program at the institution.

METHODS

This cross-sectional retrospective study was based on data obtained from medical records of patients within the first 48 hours after admission to surgical, clinical or intensive care units. The study was conducted during May and June 2005, in a medium-sized general hospital in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and included data recorded during the second semester of 2004. Records of patients over 18 years old, admitted for clinical or surgical treatment, with at least 48 hours of hospitalization in surgical, clinical, or intensive care units, were included in the study. Data obtained for patients in the three different units were compared to evaluate the implementation of the nursing process by nurses allocated to those wards at the same hospital. The form used for data collection was based on reports in the literature(2) and includes data on the health history and complete physical examination. In this study, we defined that a systematic "head-to-toe" physical assessment(2) should be performed upon admittance and daily during the hospitalization period. Data were collected by the same professional (S.P.), who is the nurse in charge of the continued education program at the institution.