The use of assessment scales by the nurse: an integrative review

Abstract

Objective: To present the use and scientific productivity in Brazil of the main health assessment scales for nurses in Brazil. Methods: This is an integrative review of the literature published in the last ten years based on the guiding question elaborated by the PICO strategy: What is the scientific production in health publications on the use of health assessment scales by nursing in Brazil? A sample of 9 articles were selected from the PUBMED, Scopus, BVS, CAPES and Lilacs databases after meeting the inclusion criteria to compose the research, which were: integrative reviews, systematic reviews and original articles, published between the years 2013 to 2023, in the Portuguese language, freely accessible, and that addressed the theme of the study. Results: The evidence found in the studies about the scales deals with the management of the scales, the knowledge of the assessment scales by the nursing team, the constitutive elements of the assessment scales and about the challenges facing the scales. These findings were grouped into three categories. Conclusion: The research highlighted the widespread use of patient assessment scales by nursing staff. They identified deficits in knowledge and in the handling of the scales, signaling the importance of continuing education as one of the alternatives for improvement. They also pointed to the need to validate and translate new scales and the need for more scientific production on the subject, especially original studies.