Postdischarge nursing interventions for stroke survivors and their families.
BACKGROUND
The physical, cognitive, and emotional sequelae of stroke underscore the need for nursing interventions across the continuum of care. Although there are several published studies evaluating community interventions for stroke survivors, the nursing role has not been clearly articulated.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper is to report a study to describe, using a standardized classification system, the nursing interventions used with stroke survivors during the initial 6 weeks following discharge home.


METHODS
In the context of a randomized controlled trial, two nurse case managers provided care to 90 community-dwelling stroke survivors who were assigned to the intervention arm of the trial. The nursing documentation was analysed, using the Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) system, to identify and quantify the interventions that were provided.


RESULTS
Stroke survivors received, on average, six different interventions. There was a trend for those who were older, more impaired, and who lived alone to receive more interventions. The most commonly reported interventions included those directed towards ensuring continuity of care between acute and community care, family care, and modifying stroke risk factors. The study was limited to the nursing documentation, which may represent an underestimation of the care delivered.


CONCLUSIONS
The NIC system was useful in capturing the interventions delivered by the nurse case managers. Nursing interventions are often not clearly articulated and less often use standardized terminology. Describing nursing activities in a standard manner will contribute to an increase in nursing knowledge and to evidence-based practice.
McBride
Kelly L
KL
School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
White
Carole L
CL
Sourial
Rosa
R
Mayo
Nancy
N
D000359:Aftercare / Q000592:standards*; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000451:nursing*; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012944:Social Support; D017741:Survivors