Rehabilitation nursing focuses on helping people with disabilities and chronic illnesses with the aim of restoring optimal function and health, as well as adapting to a different way of life. The nurse assists the patient to attain as much independence as possible whilst working as a part of a multidisciplinary team.
Rehabilitation is a lifelong process in which the (person) works with the family, the rehabilitation team and society to achieve his optimum level of functioning as a holistic person, with the goals of preventing secondary complications, fostering maximum independence, maintaining dignity and promoting quality of life.
Easton, 1999
Rehabilitation Goals
- improving quality of life
- maintaining dignity
- emphasising patient’s abilities
- maintaining or restoring optimum bodily function
- encouraging adaptation to a different way of life where needed
- encouraging self-care
- encouraging independence
- preventing complications
- re-educating the patient
- re-integrating into society
(Mauk, 2012)
Rehabilitation Centres
- acute hospital wards
- rehabilitation wards
- geriatric day hospitals (eg. Karin Grech Hospital)
- geriatric homes
- outpatient therapy departments
- health centres
- psychiatric settings
- stroke units (eg. RW8 in KGH)
- keep fit classes
- personal homes
The nurse is the one most frequently in contact with the patient, thus is able to offer the best continuity of care through rehabilitation nursing.
The four main role functions of rehabilitation nursing are:
- Supportive
- Restorative
- Educative
- Life Enhancing
According to the RCN Guidance, 2009, rehabilitation nursing is influential in the following categories:
- essential nursing skills
- therapeutic practice
- coordination
- empowerment and advocacy
- clinical governance
- advice and counseling
- political awareness
- education
Successful rehabilitation of a patient requires collaboration, communication and coordination.
Rehabilitation shouldn’t start once patient is discharged from acute care…it should start from the first day of admission and if possible in the pre-hospitalisation period.
Rehabilitation nursing involves the diagnosis and treatment of individuals and groups experiencing health problems as a result from altered functional ability, altered lifestyle, and preventative care for potential health problems.
Rehabilitation nursing provides the patients with comfort, therapy, and education, promotes adjustments to an altered lifestyle, and independence when achievable.
Rehabilitation nursing also entails holistic and compassionate palliative care through the provision of comfort and pain relief.
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