Nursing Roles and Functions in the Acute and Subacute Rehabilitation of Patients With Stroke: Going All In for the Patient.

BACKGROUND

The description of nursing roles and functions in rehabilitation of patients with stroke remains sparse.

AIM

The aim of this study was to describe the experienced roles and functions of nurses during in-hospital rehabilitation of patients with stroke.

METHODS

Within a phenomenological hermeneutic approach, 19 nurses working with in-hospital rehabilitation of patients with stroke participated in three focus group interviews during 2013.

FINDINGS

The nurses' experiences were described in two themes: (a) the nurse's role and function in relation to the patient's needs 24/7 and (b) the nurse's role and function in the interdisciplinary team. Getting to know the patient as a person was essential to the nurses to care for the patient's basic needs; these must come first working with rehabilitation and always include the relatives. Recognition of the team members' individual skills with focus on the patient's needs must be the center of attention.

CONCLUSION

An interdisciplinary rehabilitation program actively needs to include the patient by integrating the patient's perspective in the goals as well as in daily rehabilitation. In the team, nurses had the role of coordinator and the patient's voice.