The Effectiveness of Discharge Training for Patients After Cardiac Surgery
The impact of effective discharge training on our patient's quality of life.
Post-surgical care plays an important role in the success rate of heart surgery and it improves patients' quality of life. A recent Rehabilitation Nursing Journal study details how a better quality of post-operative care will increase the success rate of cardiac surgery and can help prevent any further complications.
What is discharge planning and what is the role of the rehabilitation nurse in this process?
During discharge planning, the patient's needs are identified, and the necessary plans are made to ensure they are well prepared for life after being discharged. This process, which begins when the patient is hospitalized and ends when the patient is discharged, is usually carried out by the rehabilitation nurse and is extremely vital and helpful for the patients. The key role of the rehabilitation nurse is to help educate and maintain awareness of the patient's knowledge level about the current disease and the treatments.
The positive impacts of planned discharge training
Current studies showed that when discharge training is planned and methodical, it improves the level of self-care in the patient and reduces their recovery time. It also positively affects their level of pain and anxiety, complications, length of hospital stay, healthcare cost, and can possibly prevent rehospitalization. Patients instinctively request to know when and why certain treatments are administered, as well as the side effects of these treatments. Discharge education after cardiovascular surgery should include subjects like medication use, wound care, infection, exercise hygiene, and should have some written materials to support or complement the verbal instructions so that patients have the proper resources to understand and remember what they are being told.
Cooperation amongst scholars and institutions should improve and direct efforts toward eliminating cardiac risk through cardiac rehabilitation by acknowledging the importance of the subject, communicating, and maintaining updated information on the subject across various disciplines. Providing universal and planned education on discharge training will boost its success.
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