The Process of a Skilled Nurse Supporting the Changing Thoughts and Feelings of a Spinal Cord Injury Patient during Recovery

Abstract

Purpose: To clarify the process through which skilled nurses continue providing support for the changed feelings in patients with spinal cord injuries in the recovery period.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 skilled nurses to investigate their “experience with providing support for the changed feelings of patients with spinal cord injuries.” Thereafter, these interviews were analyzed using M-GTA.

Results: To address the anxiety and fear of patients transferred to the rehabilitation ward, skilled nurses collaborated with multiple professionals to provide “support for receiving secure medical care,” “support for increasing awareness and amplification of buried self-resources,” “support for alleviating expressed anger and internal discouragement,” “support for motivation to acquire new excretion techniques” and “support for stabilization of fluctuating will.” These services are intended to “help patients reconceptualize their individuality.” In addition, for patients who questioned their existence because of becoming a nuisance to their families, the nurses provided “support to free them from negative perceptions regarding the meaning of their existence.”

Conclusion: To support the changing feelings of patients, it is necessary for nurses to combine and fine-tune their support from time to time, and to continue providing support in cooperation with multiple professionals.