Time and mean cost rate of a nurse's work in nursing consultation

Abstract

In this study, the author aimed at characterizing Nursing Consultation attendances according to pre-surgical patients of the Coronary Program, estimating the nurse's average time and work mean cost in performing it, and studying the existence of association/ correlation between time, cost and other variables of interest. The development of the consultation followed the phases of the Assistance Systemization Nursing (ASN). The sample was comprised of 44 patients, of which 37 (84%) were attended in new consultations and 7 (16%) in follow up consultations. Results obtained from the coronary program were mean time of 48.91 minutes for new consultations and 22.14 minutes for follow ups, with a mean cost of around R$ 18.01 for new consultations and R$ 8.15 for follow ups. These figures show that new consultations mean time exceeds with statistical significance follow up consultations mean time and, consequently, so do costs.