Rehabilitation encompasses a body of specific knowledge and procedures that helps people, at any stage of the life cycle, facing acute or chronic illnesses or their sequelae, in order to maximise their functional potential and independence. The general objectives are to improve function, promote independence and maximum satisfaction for the individual and, in doing so, preserve their self-esteem.
The act of caring is an inherent human capacity, but in the case of individuals with severe sequelae, it takes on particular complexity, making the specialised intervention of the Specialist Nurse in Rehabilitation Nursing essential, with effects on the quality of life of the patient and their family/significant person and, ultimately, translating into health gains. Therefore, whenever an event occurs that entails some limitation or disability, rehabilitation care plays a significant role, with the aim of maximising the potential for rebuilding autonomy — whether to recover the previous level of independence or to adapt the person to their new health condition. Thus, the Specialist Nurse in Rehabilitation Nursing creates, implements and monitors differentiated Rehabilitation Nursing plans, based on the real and potential problems of each individual. The level of knowledge and added experience allows decisions to be made regarding health promotion, prevention of secondary complications, treatment and rehabilitation, maximising the person’s potential.
The scope of intervention may include: Neurological conditions (e.g. stroke, …); Respiratory conditions (e.g. lung diseases, …); Cardiac conditions (e.g. heart diseases; post-cardiac surgery…); Orthopaedic conditions (e.g. knee surgery, hip surgery, fractures…); among other situations of impairment or disability, including elderly patients and those with oncological disease (e.g. muscle mass loss, disuse…). To this end, specific rehabilitation techniques and technologies are employed to ensure the right to dignity and quality of life.
In summary, the Rehabilitation Nurse enables the body to recover itself through various non-invasive techniques. They help care for people with special needs throughout the life cycle and in all care practice settings, promote functionality and develop the individual’s abilities, becoming a cornerstone of specialised nursing care provision.
