Exploring the clinical roles of nurses in the rehabilitation of acute stroke patients at private hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa

Date
2018-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Background: Stroke rehabilitation is the key component in the management of stroke patients. Although nurses working at private hospitals in the Cape Metropolitan area were actively involved in the care of stroke patients, their role in rehabilitation seemed unclear. This study aimed at exploring the clinical roles of nurses in the rehabilitation of hospitalised acute stroke patients. Methods: A qualitative exploratory descriptive research design was used for this study. A purposive sampling method was used for selecting fifteen participants who took part in the study. A semi-structured face-to-face interview method was used for data collection. Data collected was transcribed verbatim and analysed according to the research objectives. Permission to conduct this research was granted by Stellenbosch University’s Human Research Ethics Committee (Ref: S17/04/077). Results: Based on the findings, the main roles of nurses that were identified were the provision of clinical care services, emotional support, and rehabilitation services. This included mobilisation of patients, therapeutic positioning, exercises, and the teaching of basic self-care and communication skills. The study identified various critical challenges in engaging nurses in the rehabilitation of stroke patients. These challenges include workload as well as a lack of resources and knowledge regarding stroke rehabilitation. The study has provided some suggesting about how to overcoming these challenges in order to engage nurses in the rehabilitation process. Conclusion: This study unveiled some of the critical challenges that impact nurses’ engagement with the rehabilitation of stroke patients. Addressing these challenges will have an important influence on the positive outcomes of the rehabilitation process. Recommendation: Training with regard to rehabilitation should be incorporated in the nursing training programmes. Continuous professional development of qualified nurses working with stroke patients in regard to rehabilitation is recommended. Establishing specialised stroke units or wards for the care of patients who suffered a stroke in order to improve the outcome of rehabilitation, is highly recommended.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Beroerte rehabilitasie is die belangrikste komponent in die behandeling van beroerte-pasiënte. Alhoewel verpleegpersoneel, wat by privaathospitale in die Kaapse Metropolitaanse gebied werk, aktief betrokke was by die versorging van beroerte pasiënte, was hul rol tydens rehabilitasie onduidelik. Hierdie studie is gemik daarop om die kliniese rolle van verpleegpersoneel tydens die rehabilitasie van gehospitaliseerde akute beroerte pasiënte te ondersoek. Metodes: 'n Kwalitatiewe verkennende navorsingsmetode is vir hierdie studie is gebruik. ʼn Doelgerigte metode is gebruik om vyftien deelnemers, wie aan die studie deelgeneem het, te kies. 'n Semi-gestruktureerde aangesig-tot-aangesig onderhoudmetode was vir data insameling gebruik. Data insameling was verbatim getranskribeer en ontleed volgens die navorsingsdoelstellings. Toestemming om hierdie navorsing te doen, was verleen deur die Universiteit van Stellenbosch se Etiese Navorsingskomitee (Verw:S17/04/077). Resultate: Op grond van die bevindings, was die belangrikste rolle van verpleegpersoneel geïdentifiseer as sorg, kliniese sorgdienste, emosionele ondersteuning en rehabilitasie dienste. Dit het die mobilisasie van pasiënte, terapeutiese posisionering, oefeninge en die onderrig van basiese selfversorgings- en kommunikasievaardighede ingesluit. Die studie het verskeie kritiese uitdagings vir verpleegsters betrokke by die rehabilitasie van beroerte-pasiënte geïdentifiseer. Hierdie uitdagings sluit werkslading asook die gebrek aan hulpbronne en kennis rakende beroerte rehabilitasie in. Die studie het sekere middele om hierdie uitdagings te oorkom voorsien, ten einde verpleegpersoneel in die rehabilitasie proses te betrek. Gevolgtrekking: Hierdie studie onthul sommige van die kritieke uitdagings wat ʼn impak op die betrokkenheid van verpleegpersoneel by die rehabilitasie van beroerte pasiënte het. Die aanspreek van hierdie uitdagings sal ʼn belangrike invloed hê op die positiewe uitkoms van die rehabilitasie proses. Aanbeveling: Opleiding ten opsigte van rehabilitasie moet geïnkorporeer word in die verpleging-opleidingsprogramme. Deurlopende professionele ontwikkeling van gekwalifiseerde verpleegpersoneel wat met beroerte pasiënte werk ten opsigte van rehabilitasie word aanbeveel. Die vestiging van gespesialiseerde beroerte eenhede of sale vir die versorging van pasiënte wat aan beroerte gely het, ten einde die uitkoms van rehabilitasie te verbeter, word hoogs aanbeveel.
Description
Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
Keywords
Stroke patients -- Nursing, UCTD, Cerebrovascular disease patients -- Nursing, Cerebrovascular disease patients -- Rehabilitation, Stroke patients -- Rehabilitation, Nurses -- In-service training
Citation