The workload Intens-o-meteR: A novel instrument designed to determine workload intensity and adequacy of nurse staffing in a pediatric ward

Background: In 2012, the Atrium Medical Center (AMC) embarked on a merger proposition with another hospital, the Orbis Medical Center (OMC). For the merger to succeed, a comprehensive reorganization of services was required to reduce operational costs. This resulted in cutbacks in the number of employees and generated resentment and the perception of increased workload among the nurses.Method: In response to this problem, a web-based application (workload Intens-o-meteR) was developed to help measure the intensity of nursing workload and the adequacy of staffing, objectively. The development process involved designing an easily accessible and user-friendly instrument and testing its feasibility and acceptability after implementation.Results: Preliminary evaluations of the instrument's utility after implementation showed high acceptance and satisfaction with the web-based format. The nurses described the Intens-o-meteR as simple, efficient, easily accessible and very user-friendly. There was also satisfaction with the reliability and transparency of information generated regarding intensity and adequacy of workload.Conclusion: The process described in this paper represents a proof of concept of the instrument's capability to manage nurse staffing dilemmas in the clinical workplace.