Citation

Tocco I, Salini E, Bassetto F. Int. J. Nurs. Pract. 2011; 17(3): 275-279.

Affiliation

Resident at Institute of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy Nurse at Institute of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Unit of Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy Full Professor, Institute of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1440-172X.2011.01935.x

PMID

21605268

Abstract

Psychological and social post-traumatic adjustments consequent to hand injury deeply affect patients' needs. Nurses are the professional figures who, within the surgery, work more closely in terms of frequency and time with patients: a targeted nurse training must be implemented. A systematic review was conducted to assess hand-injured patients nurse care. In total, 335 articles were identified, of which 20 met inclusion criteria. Issues identified included psychological response to hand injury, social implications, nurse's recognition and assessment of psychosocial needs, appropriate intervention. The results show how important it is to train nurses who are well prepared to deal with the psychological status when caring for hand-injured patients, in order to set the most correct psychosocial assistance.

Language: en