The Development of Nursing Care Model for Traumatic Brain Injury Patients in Community Hospital

Abstract

This research and development aimed to develop a nursing care model for traumatic brain injury patients in community hospital and to examine its effectiveness. The samples were composed of 15 traumatic brain injury patients receiving treatment at an emergency department of Khaosukim Hospital, and 12 registered nurses. The research instruments comprised a nursing care model for traumatic brain injury patients in community hospital, a provider’s handbook of nursing care for traumatic brain injury patients in community hospital, a self-education brochure, a recording form of demographic data, an assessment form of nursing care for traumatic brain injury patients in community hospital, and a questionnaire of client satisfaction on nursing care model with the reliability of .80. The implementation and data collection were conducted through 5 steps including: 1) collect and analyze data, 2) develop the model, 3) try out the model, 4) improve and develop the model, 5) test and evaluate the effectiveness of the model from February to April, 2019. Frequency, percentage, and content analysis were used for data analysis.

The research results revealed that the nursing care model for traumatic brain injury patients at community hospital included 4 processes: 1) screening 2) monitoring and continuing care 3) referring, and 4) discharge. After implementing the model at the first time, almost traumatic brain injury patients had incomplete nursing care because the providers did not profoundly understand about a nursing care model for traumatic brain injury patients. After using the second developed model, all traumatic brain injury patients received complete care, and had no complications from delayed medical treatment and did not have complications from brain injury.

This research suggests that the registered nurses in community hospitals should apply this nursing care model for traumatic brain injury patients as a guideline for care and preventing complications in traumatic brain injury patients, especially in those with low risk and moderate risk in mild traumatic brain injuries.