Consenting on Principles of Rehabilitation Nursing Care: A Delphi Study.

PURPOSE: Patient-centeredness, evidence-based interventions, and interdisciplinary teamwork have been described as key in neurological rehabilitation nursing. In order to develop future action plans, a group of Swiss rehabilitation nurses sought agreement on concrete principles that led the efforts to develop a common understanding of rehabilitation nursing care in Switzerland.

DESIGN: A three-round Delphi study was conducted.

METHODS: Literature-based statements were formulated and sent out twice to 54 rehabilitation nursing stakeholders. In the third round, the participants ranked the three most important statements out of 13.

FINDINGS: Highest priority reached the statements: Rehabilitation nursing care (1) considers the uniqueness of the patients and their family, (2) offers support that promises the greatest potential for patients and their family, and (3) uses evidence-based knowledge.

CONCLUSION: Statements on patient- and family-centeredness were ranked highest. Patients and families' preferences have to be considered as much as evidence-based knowledge and interventions to support patients and family.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The study supported the discussion on action plans and enlivened new services and nursing interventions in a Swiss nursing community.