Application of Knowledge of the Unique Individuality of Nursing Home Residents by Nurse-assistants in Daily Care. A multiple case study

Abstract

Title: Application of Knowledge of the Unique Individuality of Nursing Home Residents by Nurse-assistants in Daily Care Background: Nurse-assistants are in the position to sustain or hold in personhood the unique person in the context of nursing home care. In situations of increasing physical dependence, one of the most important ways to hold a resident in personhood is by sustaining and protecting their body. This requires knowledge of the unique individuality of the nursing home resident. The importance of knowing to nursing practice has been well established, but the application of knowledge of the unique individuality of the resident is rarely been investigated. Aim: To investigate the application of knowledge of the unique individuality of nursing home residents in daily care, by nurse-assistants. Research question: How is the nurse-assistants knowledge of a nursing home resident’s unique individuality applied in daily care? Method: A multiple-case study was carried out and data was collected from formal care plans, observations and interviews with nurse-assistants and residents. Data was analysed according to the themes of Kukla's theory. Results: Knowledge of the unique individuality is written in formal care plans, but is mostly applied automatically by nurse-assistants in the daily care for residents Conclusion: The nurse-assistants applies knowledge of the resident's distinctive ways of moving, their embodied desires and needs, bodily presence and sense of self and give physical pleasure in daily care. Nurse-assistants protects and respects the resident's bodily privacy and boundaries and adjusts its rhythms of one's conversation, gesture and touch. Recommendations: Further research into the unique individuality of nursing home residents in the daily care to provide more individualized care and personal care plans.