In rehabilitation care the nurse supports recovery by encouraging the client to do as much as possible themselves. That only works if everyone in the team follows the same goals and agreements.
Rehabilitation is a temporary phase with a clear goal: becoming as independent as possible again, often with a return home in sight. The nurse plays a distinct role in this, alongside the physiotherapist, occupational therapist and elderly care physician. In this article you can read what rehabilitation care asks and how I work within it.
In rehabilitation it is tempting to help a client quickly. Yet recovery works better if he does as much as possible himself, even if that takes time. The nurse encourages, safeguards safety and looks at what the client can do today. That calls for patience and good coordination with the therapists about what is achievable.
Rehabilitation goals are usually set in a multidisciplinary meeting. For the nurse it is important to know those goals and apply them in daily care. If the physiotherapist says a client may walk to the toilet with the rollator, that is how it should happen on every shift. Otherwise you unintentionally work against each other.
On a rehabilitation ward clients change relatively quickly and many different staff members work there. That makes consistent agreements extra important. What is the way of working for transfers, for practising activities of daily living (ADL), for fall risk? How to record such agreements clearly is explained on the page recording team agreements in care.
A good handover in rehabilitation is not only about how the night went, but also about where the client stands in relation to his goals. What did he manage independently today, where did it go wrong, what has the therapist changed? A structured handover helps the team stay on course.
Preparing for discharge is part of this too. What care is needed at home, what does the client or informal carer still need to learn? The sooner that is known, the smoother the transition home or to the next care setting. A nurse who raises this early helps the whole team move forward.
When I work temporarily on a rehabilitation ward, I fit in with the goals and agreements already in place. I take responsibility for my part of the care independently and coordinate on the content with the team and the therapists. If I notice that agreements are carried out differently, I discuss it. Where appropriate, an assignment for consistent working agreements can help set out the approach for the whole team.
I help with this through nursing cover and consistent working agreements. Want to know what that means for your organisation? Schedule an introduction.
Put up the current mobility agreement for each client in a fixed place in the room. Then every staff member can see at a glance how the transfer is done.
Yes, rehabilitation care is one of my areas of experience within VVT (nursing, care and home care).
If that fits within the agreed assignment, it is possible. We discuss in advance what the cover involves.
Yes, within a quality improvement assignment I help make working agreements clear and workable for the whole team.
I am happy to drop by for a coffee to discuss your question.
Schedule an introduction ContactSchedule a meeting. I am happy to visit and discuss what I can do for your organisation.
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