The most effective rehabilitation plan would require
the nurse to collaborate with the multidisciplinary team
during continuous assessment and management of the stroke
patient’s musculoskeletal complications to ensure reduced
discomfort and an effective enforcement of both management
and treatment. It has long been seen that continuity is vital
when observing improvements or changes in the patient, both
physically and psychologically (Wade and Halligan, 2003).
Nurses provide a 24-hour presence from admission to discharge
(Perry et al, 2004). This continuity means that nurses ‘know’
their patients and, therefore, are well-placed to encourage the
prevention of muscular contractures. The development of a
therapeutic nurse-patient relationship starts during admission.
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 sore