The experience of people with dementia and nurses in hospital: an integrative review.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and examine existing research exploring how people with dementia and nurses view acute hospital care.


BACKGROUND
Admission to hospital can be traumatic for a person with dementia due to an inability to cope with unfamiliar environments, faces and routines. Adverse behavioural and health outcomes can result. Dementia adds complexity to patient care. Inability to deliver appropriate care is a source of stress and frustration for nurses.


METHODS
Integrative review of the literature 2005-2015 reporting the experience of people with dementia and nurses caring for them in an acute hospital setting (n = 24).


RESULTS
Hospitals focus on acute medical care; consequently people with dementia are considered low priority and a disruption to normal routine. Risk management often takes priority over patient dignity. People with dementia are stigmatised. Families have significant roles to play in the care of a person with dementia in hospital but are often excluded. Nurses struggle to complete even basic patient care, and focus on tasks often at the expense of specific patient needs. Support for nurses is lacking. The job satisfaction of nurses caring for people with dementia is poor.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses require improved education and support to care for patients with dementia. Hospitals must focus on genuine caring concurrently with rapid discharge requirements, risk mitigation and fiscal restraint. More research is needed to inform the development of appropriate care for people with dementia in hospitals.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses must understand the complex needs of people with dementia in hospital. Nurse education about dementia, practical support, strong clinical leadership and role-modelling is needed. Empathy for patients regardless of diagnosis must remain a core attribute of nurses. Current hospital culture requires wider system review to mitigate against stigmatisation of patients with dementia.
Monash University, Frankston, Vic., Australia.
Robin
R
Digby
Nursing and Midwifery, Peninsula Campus, Monash University, Frankston, Vic., Australia.
Susan
S
Lee
Monash Nursing Academy, Clayton Campus, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
Allison
A
Williams
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009726:Nurses; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D017751:Safety Management
care experience; dementia; hospitals; integrative literature review; nurses