ATTRIBUTES OF NURSING RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT VERSUS PROGRESSIVE CARE UNIT

Abstract

This study aims to carry out a comparative analysis of professional competencies, stress factors and workloads of nurses working in a surgical progressive care unit (SPCU) and intensive care unit (ICU). The study enrolled 189 nurses of whom 94 worked in a surgical progressive care unit, and 95 worked in an intensive care unit. The study objective was to identify differences in physical and emotional burden, as well as evaluate the stress resilience of nurses. To collect data, questionnaires, observation, and stress level assessment using the World Health Organization (WHO) scale were utilized. The results showed that ICU nurses faced higher levels of stress associated with intensive situations and emergency interventions, while nurses in surgical progressive care units experienced greater physical demands related to patient transfers and postoperative care. Differences were also identified in the levels of theoretical knowledge and practical skills between nurses in the two units. The ICU nurses showed greater proficiency in working with technology-intensive equipment, while nurses in the surgical progressive care unit exhibited deeper knowledge in postoperative care. Based on the data collected, practical recommendations have been developed to enhance the efficiency of nurses in these units, along with proposed measures to reduce stress and improve working conditions. The results obtained can be used to optimize the professional training of nursing personnel, improve their working conditions, and enhance the quality of patient care.