[Intensity of care during the night shift: a descriptive study of planned and unplanned activities].

Introduction: The night shift guarantees the continuity of care with activities that may vary across wards, thus the intensity of care and the organization of night activities may vary.

Aims: To describe the night nurses' activities and to analyze their frequency, answer times and activities performed by nurses when answering to patients' needs.

Methods: Nurses on night shift in a neurology and surgical ward were observed for 7 nights.