Nursing students contribution to rehabilitation for home-dwelling patients

Home-dwelling rehabilitation has expanded in the last years in Norway. The goal is to strengthen self-care for those who have suffered acute impairment or has due to chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to explore whether nursing students in home-based nursing care (HBNC) can contribute to patients' rehabilitation and mastery work during clinical placement. The study considered 121 undergraduate nursing students' HBNC clinical placements where they, in collaboration with patients, have designed and applied a rehabilitation plan. The duration of the clinical placements were 8 weeks and took place in the municipality of Oslo. Prior to the clinic placement, the students have followed an introductory course rehabilitation plan development. During the initial phase of the placement, the students an eight-step model for mapping the patient's values: 1) home, 2) close relatives, 3) physical activities, 4) friends, 5) job, 6) leisure activities, 7) body and appearance, and 8) spiritual and philosophical values. The students scaled the intensity of each value on a scale from 1 to 10. Through their clinical training a teacher and clinical supervisors have coached the students. The clinical placements have been followed by a written exam. Based on patients' values and resources, the students coached patients in self-care activities that brought the patients closer to their targets, whether it was on an activation or a participation level. The principal finding of this study was that the students in HBNC were adequately prepared to plan and carry out rehabilitation activities with patients.