Nursing Skills in Home Care Nursing Practice

Hattori K, Koyama M and Shimizu J

Published on: 2021-09-28

Abstract

This Purpose of the study is to analyze students' experiences of nursing skills in home care nursing practice and clarify the current situation. Research method is descriptive statistics from students' nursing skill experience records. Data collected: Students' nursing skill experiences recorded in the "Nursing Skill Experience Record. The "nursing skill experience record" is a record of the skills experienced in practical training during the four years of university. Research subjects: 93 fourth-year students. Nursing skill experience record Tabulation results: The items that 100% of the students experienced (including observation) were able to measure vital signs, listen to breath sounds, and perform hand washing based on standard precautions. The second most common item experienced by 80% to 99% of the students (including observation) was the ability to listen to intestinal peristalsis. Next, 60% to 79% of students experienced (including observation) the following items: 74% were able to maintain pubic hygiene (e.g., wash and wipe pubic area), 73% were able to assist with grooming, 69% were able to listen to heart sounds, 69% were able to provide care to prevent pressure ulcers, 67% were able to change bed clothes, 66% were able to care for nails, and 66% were able to change nails. The items that 50% to 59% of the students experienced (including observation) were "able to perform a full-body cleaning" (57%), "able to assist with walking and moving (assistive devices)" (57%) 57%, stoma care (including changing pouches) 56%, and partial bathing (foot bath, hand bath, etc.) 52%. These were the technical items that more than 50% of the students observed or experienced. Conclusion: Due to the medical situation in Japan, people who are highly dependent on medical care and recuperators with multiple diseases are living in the community in order to shorten the length of hospital stay. It can be inferred that the severity of the illnesses of home care patients will continue to increase, and that a higher level of both knowledge and skills will be required of visiting nurses.