Abstract
To describe the meaning attributed by specialist nurses to the promotion of the elderly's autonomy. This is a phenomenological study, according to Giorgi's method, which uses semi-structured interviews. Eighteen specialist nurses participated, recruited using convenience sampling, in two hospitals in the northern region of Portugal, between March and December 2018. Five themes emerged: use of instruments; use of theoretical framework; nursing diagnoses; prescription of interventions; nursing records. Specialist nurses use instruments that essentially promote the elderly's physical capacity, within the scope of autonomy. The information systems used to record the diagnoses and prescriptions for interventions do not reflect the intervention for the person's autonomy. Autonomy in a multidimensional way is not very well developed, despite the recognition of its importance for the elderly's quality of life and dignity.
Highlights
Demographic aging is a worldwide phenomenon, and it is associated with the growing prevalence of chronic and debilitating diseases that affect the elderly
Regarding self-care, specialist nurses report that they record: (...) only in relation to self-care (E1), we focus more on self-care (E4) and everything is related to self-care (E6)
Functional Independence Measure (FIM), besides the basic activities of daily living, includes other aspects covered by the concept of autonomy, such as cognition and social integration(11,12,14); it does not refer to intelligence management, as the authors point out in their study(4)
Summary
Demographic aging is a worldwide phenomenon, and it is associated with the growing prevalence of chronic and debilitating diseases that affect the elderly. These diseases put mobility into question, and the subject’s autonomy(1,2). In the context of provision of nursing care, it is common to daily hear the speeches of most professionals on the term autonomy relating it with the subject’s physical independence. With regard to the prescription of nursing interventions aimed at the promotion/maintenance of the person being cared for, when checked on practice, they refer to the promotion of independence, especially with regard to the physical condition(3). The clinical interview and the careful and systematic observation allow the recognition of problems, the elaboration of diagnoses, and the planning of care for an adequate response to the needs of the person being cared for(5–7)
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