Question

A rehabilitation nurse caring for a patient who has had a stroke is approached by the patient's family and asked why the patient has to do so much for herself when she is obviously struggling. What would be the nurse's best answer?

A) "We are trying to help her be as useful as she possibly can."
B) "The focus on care in a rehabilitation facility is to help the patient to resume as much self-care as possible."
C) "We aren't here to care for her the way the hospital staff did; we are here to help her get better so she can go home."
D) "Rehabilitation means helping patients do exactly what they did before their stroke."

Answer 1

The nurse's best answer to why a patient has to do so much for herself in rehabilitation is to help the patient regain as much independence and self-care ability as possible. It's an essential part of the rehabilitation process, which focuses on relearning lost functions and enhancing capabilities.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient's family asks why a stroke patient must do so much for herself despite obvious struggles, the rehabilitation nurse can provide a clear and compassionate explanation about the patient's care strategy. The best response in this scenario would be option B, which states "The focus on care in a rehabilitation facility is to help the patient to resume as much self-care as possible." This answer conveys the essential goal of rehabilitation, which is to enable patients to regain independence and improve their ability to manage daily activities on their own. It's important to emphasize that rehabilitation care is patient-centric, with a strong emphasis on helping patients to relearn functions and enhance capabilities such as strength, balance, and coordination.The nervous system's ability to adapt is remarkable, allowing patients to recover and make gains through various therapies, even if some neurological damage remains. This adaptive process often involves encouraging the patient to participate actively in their recovery, which includes a prescribed regimen of physical, occupational, and speech therapies tailored to their needs. Rehabilitative care is not only about getting better but enabling patients to reacquire the skills and strengths necessary for independence and daily living.