Experiences of Nurses Managing Patients with Spinal Cord Injury at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Abstract

Nurses encounter several challenges in managing patients with spinal cord injury. However, little is known about this area of nursing care. Thus the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of nurses managing patients with spinal cord injury at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was employed for this study. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit sixteen (16) nurses who were eligible for the study. The purpose, benefits and risks of the study were explained to participants to obtain their consent. Respondents were interviewed face-to-face and their accounts audio-taped. A semi structured interview guide was designed based on the research objectives and the ABCX family stress model (Lavee et al. 2011; Jones & Passey, 2012). Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. The study concluded that the experience of nurses‟ span from physical injury to delayed care activities, verbal abuse, emotional stress, empathy, limited logistics and social isolation. Again, the study revealed certain coping strategies that nurses at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital employed in adjusting with the stressors of the care. Some of the coping strategies included obtaining patient/family cooperation, teamwork and fellow nurses‟ contribution, and maintaining good health practices. The study therefore recommends that considering the wide experience of occupational hazards and negative experiences expressed by nurses‟, measures should be instituted to minimize negative experiences and health complications occurring among nurses.