2020 Volume 40 Pages 448-456
Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate nurses’ capacity to provide good dementia care in acute hospitals.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive study, along with semi-structured interviews, was conducted with 15 nurses practicing dementia care at acute hospitals.
Results: Nursing practice competencies included “Nurses’ basic attitudes toward dementia patients”, “Implementation of safety and comfort measures for dementia patients during hospital stays”, “Expansion of sustainable dementia care with consideration for patients’ lifestyle before and after hospitalization and environment around patients”, and “Behavior as a team member to provide appropriate care for dementia patients.”
Conclusion: This study revealed not only the nurses’ basic attitudes towards dementia patients, but also their comprehensive competency in providing good dementia care in acute hospitals. Because the number of elderly people with dementia admitted to hospitals is expected to rise rapidly in the future, nurses should effectively improve their competency in providing dementia care from this perspective.
