Registered Nurse's Competency To Screen Dysphagia Among Stroke Patients: Literature Review

Abstract

Background: An increased number of elderly people in the world may lead to an increase in the incidence of stroke, which creates a burden on the country’s healthcare system. Dysphagia is the most common post stroke. Screening of dysphagia in stroke patients is serious to prevent complication linked to aspiration and inadequate hydration/nutrition. Objective: This literature review aimed to discuss registered nurses' competency to screen dysphagia among stroke patients.Methods:The keywords used were nurse's competency; dysphagia; dysphagia screening; and stroke. These keywords were entered into multiple electronic databases including CINAHL, Medline, Science Direct, Pro Quest, Pub Med, and Wiley Online Library. Aliterature search was conducted for the period2005 to 2016.Results:Seventeen studies were identified by a systematic search ofthe literature.Two parts created the body of this literature review. The first part covers the literature on the training nurses in screening dysphagia among stroke patients and benefits of screening. The second part covers nurse's competency in terms of knowledge and skills of screening dysphagia among stroke patients.Conclusion:Because the nurses have more contact with the patient, they are most likely to observe dysphagia. It is important that formal dysphagia screening protocols are routine nursing care that requires special training to practice. Trained nurses should assess their competency in terms of knowledge and skills via well-developed tool.

‘Finishing that plate of food …’ The role of the nurse caring for the patient with dysphagia

“…Similar to the current study, others 6,7 have noted that dysphagia was a frequent symptom of stroke. As noted from the results, knowledge regarding dysphagia symptomatology, presentation of dysphagia and management was poor.…”

“…However, given the conditions of work for nurses, such as increased workloads, the timing and format of training needs to be thoughtfully interrogated, so as not to worsen feelings of burnout. 7,13 Continued commitment to work needs to be reinforced and supported to alleviate feelings such as apathy. Another aspect that was neglected but is critical when working with patients who have dysphagia is that of oral care.…”

“…Nurses are acknowledged as the most relevant and essential health professionals for the patient during a period of hospitalisation. 7,18 They have a significant role in ensuring that the patient eats his/her plate of food, swallows the prescribed tablets and drinks adequate amounts of water, whilst the nurse must also provide necessary emotional and informational support as and when required by the patient. 19,20 In a clinical context, assumptions are inadvertently made by health professionals concerning nurses' knowledge about dysphagia.…”

Knowledge and Practice of Health Professionals in the Management of Dysphagia

“…The lack of training of health professionals who provide their services to patients at risk of or with oropharyngeal dysphagia can lead to a delay in patients’ diagnosis and increase the complications derived from this condition, which is an important barrier to the management of these patients [ 42 ]. Several authors have studied the knowledge possessed by health professionals, mainly nurses, finding that this knowledge was moderate [ 43 ] and that specific training and experience in caring for patients with dysphagia provided new and better knowledge [ 29 ].…”

Swallowing screening practice patterns for nurses in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit

“…Nurses represent the front‐line healthcare professional who provides 24‐hr care to patients in the cardiac surgery ICU setting. As such, nurses are expected to recognise and respond to deviations in a patient's condition and to be knowledgeable in the identification and communication of dysphagic symptoms to other healthcare professionals (Abu‐Snieneh & Saleh, 2018; Dondorf et al., 2015). Greater inclusion of dysphagia‐related materials in formal educational programmes has been recommended as well as development of continuing education materials for practicing nurses working in high‐risk populations (Albini et al, 2013; Khoja, 2018; Travers, 1999).…”