Nurses’ Opinion on Nursing Problems in the Care of Patients after Stroke

Abstract

Introduction. One of the most common causes of death, permanent disability in people aged over 40 is a stroke. The effective rehabilitation of stroke patients is affected by proper nursing care, as well as by assistance, presence and support for families of patients.Aim. The aim of this study was to obtain nurses’ opinion about the problems in the nursing care of patients after stroke.Material and Methods. The study was conducted with the participation of 60 respondents aged 23–58 years (average age: 38.1) including 4 men and 56 women. The respondents were of practitioners nurses at surgical and conservative wards in a healthcare facility in Silesia. The research tool was a questionnaire completed voluntarily by respondents, ensuring anonymity.Results. According to 85% of the respondents the most common problems that emerged during the nursing care of patients after stroke consisted of mental disorders occurring in patients. Then, performance of the toilet of the whole body of the patient (21.6%), education of the patients and their families (21.6%) and taking actions against anti-bedsore (18.3%). The fewest problems in nursing care accounted for oral feeding of patients (6.6%) and the situation in which the patient experienced pain (3.3%). Whereas feeding the patient through the tube and participation in pharmacotherapy was not the reason for problems that arise in the care of patients after stroke.Conclusions. 1) Working conditions of nurses at profile conservative and surgical wards, where hospitalized patients are of III and IV category of care contribute to the formation of significant physical and psychological burdens of this professional group, which reduces efficiency and thus reduces job satisfaction. 2) For the study group, the greatest problems of nursing are patients with mental disorders, education of the patients and their families and the performance of the patient’s whole body toilet. They hinder the care of the patient after a stroke. 3) The occurrence of adverse events did not constitute, according to the study group, a problem in patient care, so this perception of the study group points to the emerging syndrome of ‘burnout’. This may entail negative consequences in patient’s care, who need appropriate and comprehensive care after stroke. (JNNN 2017;6(2):73–80)