medical decision support medical decision support
Sign In

Nursing Assessment Index (NAI) of Owens et al for Postoperative Mortality

Description

The Nursing Assessment Index (NAI) is a simple method of evaluating a patient in the intensive care unit following surgery. It is a measure for the number and severity of organs showing complications. The authors were from Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel and Massachusetts General Hospitals in Boston.


 

The assessment is performed by a senior ward nurse.

 

Organ systems evaluated:

(1) cardiovascular

(2) respiratory

(3) central nervous system

(4) renal

(5) hepatobiliary

(6) gastrointestinal

(7) other (hematologic, immune, etc.)

Impairment

Points

none

0

mild

1

moderate

2

severe

3

 

nursing assessment index =

= SUM(points for all systems evaluated)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 21

• The higher the score, the worse the prognosis.

 

Index

Mortality Rate (in 1975)

Risk Group

0

0.4%

very low

1, 2 or 3

0.7%

low

4, 5, or 6

9.2%

moderate

>= 7

50%

high

 

Limitations:

• The mortality rates have improved since 1975.

• It would be necessary to remeasure the mortality rates for current standards of care before the index could be used today.

 


To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.

Specialty