Nursing roles in orthopaedic joint correction in haemophiliac patients

Abstract

The roles of nurses in 16 orthopaedic joint corrections of 14 haemophilia A patients (eight severe, six moderate) are described. The patients' ages ranged from 10 to 37 years with a mean age of 17 years and 4 months. The nursing tasks could be divided into three stages. The first is preoperation, the nurse acting as care provider on a team of experts involved in planning the corrective surgery for the affected joints; and as a counsellor for preparing the patients and family members to cope with the challenging operation. The second is intraoperation, the nurse having the role of care provider, giving factor concentrate either by bolus injection (seven episodes) or continuous infusion (nine episodes). The third is postoperation, as a comprehensive care provider, giving cryoprecipitate and/or factor concentrate and monitoring bleeding doses, and as a trainer, teaching the patients how to dissolve blood components and self-venepuncture with aseptic technique. Home treatment for early bleeding was given for 11 episodes, while 6-month prophylaxis was given for five. The accomplishment of these different roles required good communication and nurturing skills, a well-adjusted personality and a warm and positive attitude. The successful performance of nursing roles allows the haemophiliac patients to have a near-normal quality of life.