During this phase, the nurse is able to observe the patient noting any stroke-affected musculoskeletal complications that may interfere with a patient’s activities of daily living.Therefore, developing a more integrated, multidisciplinary, holistically
inclusive assessment/management tool may contribute to nurses providing a more accurate physical profile and could enhance future follow-on rehabilitative care. This is not a novel
idea: Lincoln et al (1996) advocated that all staff should be trained to place patients in positions to reduce the risks of complications such as contractures, respiratory complications and pressure sores.