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The Issue of Nursing Care in Old People's Homes
MARKOVÁ, Štěpánka
The thesis deals with the issue of nursing care in old people's homes. Given the improving medical and nursing care and also the prevention of diseases, the human life extends. This leads to the aging of population. Therefore, it is essential to understand this issue, its interconnection with nursing care, but also to find the right approach to the elderly in residential facilities providing social services. The theoretical part of the thesis deals with old age and aging, behavioural changes in old age, specifics of communication with the elderly, long-term care for the elderly, care for a man in nursing homes. It deals with the work of nurses in old people's homes and with their education. Five objectives were set within the framework of the research. The first objective was to determine areas of nursing care, in which the nurses working in old people's homes have most problems. The second objective was to find out how the nurses manage physical strain. The third objective was to determine how the nurses manage psychical strain. The fourth objective was to find out what theoretical knowledge and practical skills the nurse must have. The fifth objective was to identify possibilities of further training for nurses working in old people's homes. Qualitative research was applied in the empirical part of the thesis. The method of non - standardized interview was used. The research group consisted of 10 nurses who work in residential facilities for the elderly in old people's homes. To process the interviews, the open coding technique was applied - a paper-and-pencil method. To complement psychical resilience of nurses, S.O.C questionnaire by A. Antonovsky was used. There were 42 questionnaires used in the research. The interviews with the respondents showed that the work of a nurse in homes for the elderly is physically and mentally demanding. And it is obvious that nurses feel the mental strain as more damaging. The physical demands are connected with the state of the client and his diseases but also with the space limitations of homes and night shifts. The mental burden is caused by similar factors and also by the family of the client, specifics of the communication with the elderly, cooperation with the hospital, working atmosphere, responsibility and keeping records. Next important factor that negatively influences mental state of the nurses is a lack of prestige and recognition of their work. Even though the nurses feel both types of stress, most of them cope with it without problems and they try to restore their balance in their leisure time. The conclusions of the thesis also point to the high demands and wide range of expertise and skills required from the nurses when providing care. Even specialized procedures are carried out in homes. Nurses must know how to communicate, handle conflict situations, co-operate with colleagues from different fields. Great emphasis is placed on independence in evaluating the health state of the client while ensuring the nursing care. The nurse must have personal qualities for work with the elderly. Another important component of their work is their knowledge and practical skills in the field of social work theoretically backed by the Act 108/2006 Coll.
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