Maria de Lurdes da Costa Martins, Lília Marisa Gonçalves Marta, Silvia Cristina Torgo Nogueira, Joana Daniela Mesquita Abobeleira, Carlos Manuel Sousa Albuquerque, Fátima Edviges de Carvalho Marques
{"title":"Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation Protocol for Patients With Cardiac Pathology: Results of a Longitudinal Study.","authors":"Maria de Lurdes da Costa Martins, Lília Marisa Gonçalves Marta, Silvia Cristina Torgo Nogueira, Joana Daniela Mesquita Abobeleira, Carlos Manuel Sousa Albuquerque, Fátima Edviges de Carvalho Marques","doi":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000519","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000519","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To evaluate the impact of phase III cardiac rehabilitation (CR) protocol on the physical fitness of individuals with cardiac disease in a community-based setting.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A descriptive-correlational longitudinal study conducted at a community center in Portugal from November 2022 to January 2023.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants underwent two evaluation points, 10 weeks apart, during which they completed 20 supervised rehabilitation sessions. Physical fitness was assessed using validated instruments for the Portuguese population. Data collection was performed by rehabilitation nurses, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The sample included 30 participants, mostly male (63.3%), with a mean age of 66.1 years. The majority were overweight (56.7%), and 43.3% had an elevated cardiovascular risk based on abdominal circumference. Statistically significant improvements were observed in abdominal circumference, lower limb strength, handgrip strength, and cardiorespiratory capacity. A nonsignificant but positive trend was also observed in body mass index.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>This study highlights the importance of community-based Phase III CR exercises as a strategy to improve functional outcomes and reduce cardiovascular risk. These interventions require structured supervision to ensure safety and effectiveness.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Phase III CR protocol led to meaningful improvements in physical fitness and anthropometric indicators among cardiac patients, supporting the continued expansion of structured rehabilitation services in community settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":94188,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses","volume":"51 2","pages":"58-68"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147793494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christina M Derbidge, Christine M Mullen, Tyler Christensen, Madison A Niermeyer, Kate Trimm, Lexi DeWolf, Josi Skiby
{"title":"Interdisciplinary Process Improvement for Behavior Management of Acute Brain Injury.","authors":"Christina M Derbidge, Christine M Mullen, Tyler Christensen, Madison A Niermeyer, Kate Trimm, Lexi DeWolf, Josi Skiby","doi":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000516","DOIUrl":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000516","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Following a traumatic brain injury (TBI), 70% or more of patients display disruptive behaviors including verbal or physical aggression, wandering, nonadherence or care refusal, social withdrawal, and socially inappropriate behavior. These behaviors often worsen over the first few years after a TBI and place a significant strain on caring relationships.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Our brain injury program aimed to refine our inpatient rehabilitation programming approach, using the evidence base and provider expertise, to address disruptive behaviors among patients with TBI.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We formed an interdisciplinary committee, conducted one-on-one interviews and surveys, and participated in staff meetings. We based interventions on the premise that our TBI patients in the early stages of recovery required consistent environmental and interactional changes maintained by all members of the interdisciplinary team. We illustrate this approach with a case example.</p><p><strong>Findings and conclusions: </strong>Our approach led to increased evidence-based behavior tracking, new health care assistant and nurse training, and improved team communication. Training was well received. Self-reported knowledge increased for all learners [ t (119)=-7.36, p <.001]. We saw increased event reporting on challenging behaviors, suggesting improved awareness of the need and opportunity for intervention. The Oversight Committee also received positive feedback about improved collaboration across disciplines.</p>","PeriodicalId":94188,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses","volume":" ","pages":"48-57"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145215015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Swallowing Dysfunction in Stroke: The Role of Nurses and Rehabilitation Strategies Across Recovery Phases.","authors":"Ruqing Zhang, Dongyan Qin","doi":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000521","DOIUrl":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000521","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Swallowing dysfunction is a common consequence of neurological disorders such as stroke, and may lead to malnutrition, aspiration, and reduced quality of life. Nurses are key members of the interdisciplinary team involved in the early detection and management of these issues.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This review explores the role of nurses in swallowing rehabilitation across the acute, recovery, and chronic phases, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of emerging technologies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A literature search was conducted using PubMed, focusing on studies involving swallowing rehabilitation in neurological patients, particularly those highlighting nursing interventions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the acute phase, nurses perform bedside screening to identify dysphagia early and coordinate timely care with other team members. During recovery, they support swallowing exercises, monitor patient progress, and provide education to patients and caregivers. In the chronic phase, nurses oversee long-term care, support nutritional management, and train family members. Technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence enhance individualized rehabilitation strategies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Swallowing rehabilitation requires phase-specific nursing interventions and close interdisciplinary teamwork. Strengthening the role of nurses in assessment, implementation, and patient education contributes to better patient outcomes and ensures continuity of care throughout all recovery phases.</p>","PeriodicalId":94188,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses","volume":" ","pages":"76-92"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145454148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Interdisciplinary Process Improvement for Behavior Management of Acute Brain Injury.","authors":"","doi":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000548","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000548","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94188,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses","volume":"51 2","pages":"E3"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147793378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Empowering Patients With Spinal Cord Injury: A Guide to Online Resources for Nurses.","authors":"","doi":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000549","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000549","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94188,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses","volume":"51 2","pages":"E4"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147793447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Patient-specific Functional Scale: A Simple Functional Performance Tool in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.","authors":"Ali Albarrati, Nujud Halawi, Rakan Nazer","doi":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000512","DOIUrl":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000512","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and construct validity of the patient-specific functional scale (PSFS) in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Stable patients with CVD were recruited from outpatient cardiology clinics. Reliability and validity were examined using a cross-sectional study design. Patients with CVD (n=140) were included to assess the test-retest reliability using the interclass correlation coefficient model 2,1 (ICC 2,1 ), measurement errors, as well as construct validity of the PSFS. Construct validity was tested by comparing the PSFS with a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and Duke Activity Status Index (DASI). The PSFS would be hypothesized to demonstrate at least moderate correlations (>0.50) with the 6MWT and DASI.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 140 patients (85 males) with CVD completed the PSFS. The average age of the participants was 59 years. The PSFS showed excellent reliability with an ICC 2,1 , of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90-0.94). The PSFS was correlated with the DASI ( r =.88, p <.001) and the 6MWT ( r =.89, <.001). The SEM was 0.37 points, and the MDC at a 95% CI was 1.01 points. There were no floor or ceiling effects.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>This scale can help rehabilitation nurses to identify patients' functional needs and personalize rehabilitation interventions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides evidence supporting the reliability and validity of the PSFS in the CVD population in outpatient settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":94188,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses","volume":" ","pages":"93-98"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145215041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Health Literacy: Implications for Rehabilitation Nursing Practice.","authors":"Anne Deutsch","doi":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000545","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000545","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94188,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses","volume":"51 2","pages":"45-47"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147793414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Empowering Patients With Spinal Cord Injury: A Guide to Online Resources for Nurses.","authors":"Amy Balas, Katherine Earnest, Anne Deutsch","doi":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000518","DOIUrl":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000518","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A person who experiences a spinal cord injury (SCI) is often faced with significant alterations to nearly every aspect of their day-to-day life. Providing patients with SCI and their families all the key education during an inpatient rehabilitation stay is challenging for nurses due to short inpatient stays. Rehabilitation nurses and other clinicians must prioritize teaching the information and skills most essential for a safe discharge. After transitioning back into the community, people with SCI will have significant ongoing needs for trustworthy health information that will help them restore, maintain, and promote optimal health and function. This article provides background information and selected trustworthy resources, developed by health professionals and persons with SCI, that nurses can share with their clients. We also provide an online resource that can be shared with persons with SCI and their families that covers educational sources, health information, individual support, and online peer groups and mentoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":94188,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses","volume":" ","pages":"69-75"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145260239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Nurse-driven Sleep Protocol for Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation.","authors":"Kendal Buchanan, Lenora Smith, Nichole Miller, Shikha Modi","doi":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000544","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000544","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The impact of a novel protocol containing a bundle of best practices from the literature, combined with electronic medical record integration on nightly sleep duration of adult patients with stroke in an inpatient rehabilitation facility over a 10-night inpatient stay was investigated.</p><p><strong>Design and methods: </strong>This quality improvement project used hourly rounding observations from nursing staff combined with Insomnia Severity Index scores to assess the impact of nonpharmacological interventions on the number of hours patients slept per night and patients' subjective perception of sleep. Nurses' confidence in using the new interventions and knowledge of sleep promotion were assessed using a pre-test and post-test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A statistically significant decrease in Insomnia Severity Index scores from admission to 10-nights post-admission was noted; however, only 35% of patients achieved the average nightly sleep duration goal of seven hours minimum. This value remained unchanged from before the intervention.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance to the practice of rehabilitation nursing: </strong>Post-stroke-related deficits contribute to and complicate the assessment of sleep disruption in inpatient rehabilitation facilities. Rehabilitation nurses play a key role in the identification and management of sleep disturbances to support patient recovery.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>As sleep disturbances among patients with stroke contribute to worse outcomes, nurse-driven nonpharmacological interventions should be considered for all patients as clinically appropriate, regardless of presentation, as a matter of best practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":94188,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147793342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ann M Toth, Kyle L Mickalowski, Mitch Sevigny, Lauren Hunt, Suzanne Ellison, Jennifer Coker
{"title":"Evaluating a Dashboard for Individual Clinician Enhancement (DICE) for Rehabilitation Nurses.","authors":"Ann M Toth, Kyle L Mickalowski, Mitch Sevigny, Lauren Hunt, Suzanne Ellison, Jennifer Coker","doi":"10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000551","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000551","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This pilot study assessed the feasibility and usability of a Dashboard for Individual Clinician Enhancement (DICE) and explored its preliminary impact on nurses in a rehabilitation setting.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>The study included a focus group and quantitative measures of feasibility and usability. An exploratory randomized control trial (RCT) examined preliminary effects of DICE access on outcome measures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In Phase I, nurses provided feedback on DICE design, and suggestions were incorporated into DICE V2.0. Phase II measured usability, viewing frequency, and perceived value, and included an exploratory RCT to examine potential effects on key performance indicators (KPIs) and the Psychological Empowerment scale (PES).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nurses rated DICE usability as \"good\" and accessed the dashboard an average of 2.2 times per month. Participants reported positive perceptions, describing the DICE as empowering, accessible, and helpful for increasing awareness of their contributions to patient care and quality improvement. Exploratory analyses of impact on KPIs and the PES were inconclusive due to insufficient statistical power.</p><p><strong>Relevance to clinical practice: </strong>Preliminary findings suggest that DICE can help nurses to feel more informed about their performance, which could support empowerment in clinical practice.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study demonstrated DICE usability, feasibility, and positive reception by rehabilitation nurses.</p>","PeriodicalId":94188,"journal":{"name":"Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147793308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}