Resumo (EN)
Objective – Analyzing nursing personnel right sizing in the Intensive Care Unit for Adults of a general hospital in the central-western region of the state of São Paulo, through Perroca’s Patient Classification System (2000) and through the resolution of Federal Nursing Council (COFEN) 293/2004. Method – This is an exploratory and descriptive study, carried out from October 19 to November 17, 2011. The forms for recording information were filled in by observing daily records, to total 413 forms. Results – The occupancy rate was 91,78%. It was found that 56% required intensive care, 15% semi-intensive care, 27% intermediate care and 2% minimum care. The team of 8 nurses, 21 nursing technicians and 11 nursing assistants should be adjusted to 20 nurses and 20 nursing technicians. Conclusion – The adoption of a patient classification system allows enhancing the understanding on clientele, their real needs, as well as it enables the development of skills and competencies to ensure to the nursing team a more safe, innovative, independent and participatory management and assistance.