Absentismo-enfermedad del equipo de enfermería en unidad de terapía intensiva The absenteeism-disease of a nursing team in an intensive care unit

This study aimed at investigating the absenteeism disease in an Adult-ICU. The descriptive-exploratory study was carried out with 56 nurses who worked in the ICU in 2006. The frequency (fi)rate and the wasted-time percentage for the absenteeism disease were calculated. Most of the nurses are female (76.79%), between 30 and 39 years old (42.86%), and with a statutory bond (66.07%). The average of the missed workdays was higher in medium nursing workers (2.93), female (3.19), with a short-period bond (4.37), and from the night shift (6.22). The fi average of the team was 0.27 and the Wtp was 1.76%. The absenteeism disease was considered high and thus more studies are necessary in order to find its causes. Descriptors: Absenteeism; Nursing staff; Personnel management; Intensive care unit; Quality of health care.