Striving to establish patient participation in rehabilitation: the challenges experienced by nursing staff when changing practice to include the patient’s perspective

This study explores the difficulties faced by nurses when trying to involve patients' views in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. It highlights how nurses find it challenging to prioritize listening to patients due to time constraints and a focus on physical tasks. The research shows that nurses struggle to balance the need to listen to patients with the demands of their daily routines and the expectations of their colleagues. They often feel they lack the time and training to effectively engage in conversations with patients. The study suggests that to improve patient involvement, there needs to be a shift in the way rehabilitation is organized, with a greater emphasis on the importance of listening to patients' perspectives and incorporating them into the rehabilitation process.

• 1
  Nursing staff found it difficult to truly listen to patients' perspectives, struggling to set aside other tasks and be fully present in conversations.
• 2
  The nursing staff faced challenges in finding time to listen to patients, feeling compelled to prioritize other tasks and manage interruptions.
• 3
  Nursing staff felt the need to legitimize the patient's perspective in rehabilitation, advocating for conversations to be seen as an integral part of the treatment process.