[Waiting time between acute event and rehabilitation: continuity of nursing care and rehabilitation. Analysis and suggestions for a Service of Protected Discharge].

Introduction: In recent years, in Italy, population lengthening of life leads to an higher number of individuals with chronic diseases (Osservatorio, 2010). The hospital which deals with the acute phase of diseases needs to be integrated with primary care. This connection is particularly important for the treatment, care and rehabilitation of patient, as well as a general need for more health and social care integrated tools.

The SIPI for measuring complexity in nursing care: evaluation study.

Background: The traditional model for nursing staff management widely used in Italian hospitals assumes that diagnosis determines the amount of nursing required, but this has been widely criticized. In order to quantify and monitor the fluctuation of the complexity in nursing care, a questionnaire, called SIPI (Sistema Informativo della Performance Infermieristica), that is based on the care needs expressed by the patients, has been proposed in the Monza Hospital.

Design: A group of trained nurses were asked to indicate their own perception of the level of nursing day-care complexity provided to each patient and then to complete the SIPI.