1999 Volume 3 Issue 1 Pages 68-77
Purpose: To clarify the function of nurse’s visits at night through the activity of a pioneer visiting nurse station.
Method: Subjects were all users through December, 1995 to the end of August, 1997 except children of a municipality-funded visiting nurse station which provides nurses’ visits in day and night by three shifts. Content of provided care to the users were collected from the records of care plan as well as home visits and compared to the statistics of the stations in all over Japan. Based on the data collected, care needs, the profession and time zone provided were described.
Results and discussion: 1) Eighty-nine subjects of all users of the station were older than that of the visiting nurse stations of all Japan, Also the rate of bedridden and cancer patients were more than all Japan. It means that this station could support more frai1 elders compared to other stations in Japan. 2) Through the content of care provided in each time zone by nurses and home-helpers enabled the quick change of service use and nurses’ correspond as well as providing medical treatment. 3) Thirteen percent of all users needed for night time visits. It was speculated that when the providing system for night visit was prepared, more than 10% of users needed night time visits. 4) More than sixty percent of users; 21 of 35 died at home.
Conclusion: Around-the-clock in-home nursing care enabled more clients stay at home through care for dying patients at home and quick response when clients get sick as well as providing medical treatment at home.
