The concept describes the level of care a patient requires based on the severity of their illness or injury, the complexity of their condition, and the resources needed for their treatment. It represents a comprehensive assessment of a patient’s needs, taking into account physiological stability, psychological factors, and functional abilities. For example, an individual requiring continuous cardiac monitoring and frequent medication adjustments exhibits a high degree, while a patient awaiting routine follow-up with stable vital signs demonstrates a lower degree of need.
The careful assessment offers significant advantages in healthcare. Accurate assessment facilitates efficient resource allocation, ensuring that individuals receive the appropriate level of attention from nursing staff and other healthcare providers. It also aids in predicting patient outcomes, optimizing staffing levels, and improving overall quality of care. Historically, less structured methods were used to gauge patient needs; however, standardized tools and objective measures are now increasingly employed to ensure consistency and accuracy.
