The problem of patient vulnerability

In a recent study undertaken in Western Australia to explore the quality of nursing care from the perspective of adult patients in acute care hospitals, the core problem found to be shared by the study participants was that of vulnerability. The study used grounded theory method and the main source of data was in-depth interviews with 23 patients following discharge from an array of hospitals. Vulnerability was related to an inability to retain control of their life situation and/or to protect themselves against threats to their integrity (physical and emotional wholeness, intactness). Different levels of vulnerability were found to indicate different types of nursing intervention in order to achieve positive outcomes in terms of patient satisfaction. Specific factors causing and contributing to patient vulnerability were identified. This paper presents these aspects of the study findings. Measures for reducing vulnerability are proposed.