Postoperative nursing care of adult neurosurgical patients: interventions and considerations according to literature
Haussalo, Tiina (2021)
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021120824475
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021120824475
Tiivistelmä
Neurosurgery is a specialty field of healthcare that focuses on providing neuro-intensive and operational treatment for patients with disorders of the brain, spine, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Providing efficient treatment and care for neurosurgical patients requires special skills and knowledge from the healthcare team. A nurse working with neurosurgical patients must possess vast knowledge of the central nervous system, caring for severely ill patients, and healthcare interventions. However, it can be difficult for an international nursing student, or and international nurse in Finland to find concrete and relevant English information about neurosurgical nursing in an easily accessible manner.
The aim of the study was to find, analyze and synthesize the latest evidence-based nursing research literature, and find any prevailing themes and concepts applicable in the postoperative nursing care of adult neurosurgical patients. The purpose was to produce a study written in English forming an understanding of what interventions exist and what to consider as a nurse caring for adult neurosurgical patients in the postoperative hospitalization phase.
The thesis was conducted as a literature review. The PICO tool was used in formulating the search phrases. Databases used for searching the literature were Cinahl Plus Full Text, Cochrane Library and PubMed. A total of ten articles were included in the review and analyzed using inductive content analysis. Three main themes emerged: 1) assessment and management of pain, 2) patient monitoring and status assessment, and 3) assessment, assistance, and rehabilitation.
The review results suggested that assessment is the most fundamental task for a nurse and that continuous assessment is a crucial factor in postoperative neurosurgical nursing. It allows the execution of timely and appropriate interventions that reduce the risk of postoperative complications and promote effective recovery, setting the course for postoperative rehabilitation. The nurse can affect the patient’s recovery process significantly and has a sizeable responsibility in the postoperative treatment process.
The aim of the study was to find, analyze and synthesize the latest evidence-based nursing research literature, and find any prevailing themes and concepts applicable in the postoperative nursing care of adult neurosurgical patients. The purpose was to produce a study written in English forming an understanding of what interventions exist and what to consider as a nurse caring for adult neurosurgical patients in the postoperative hospitalization phase.
The thesis was conducted as a literature review. The PICO tool was used in formulating the search phrases. Databases used for searching the literature were Cinahl Plus Full Text, Cochrane Library and PubMed. A total of ten articles were included in the review and analyzed using inductive content analysis. Three main themes emerged: 1) assessment and management of pain, 2) patient monitoring and status assessment, and 3) assessment, assistance, and rehabilitation.
The review results suggested that assessment is the most fundamental task for a nurse and that continuous assessment is a crucial factor in postoperative neurosurgical nursing. It allows the execution of timely and appropriate interventions that reduce the risk of postoperative complications and promote effective recovery, setting the course for postoperative rehabilitation. The nurse can affect the patient’s recovery process significantly and has a sizeable responsibility in the postoperative treatment process.