Karlo Ignacio E.

Reyes
3NUR7

Ms. Dyan Tiongco

Clinical Instructor

Orthopedic Nursing RLE Clinical Duty

Philippine Orthopedic Center
Bibliography
Title: Effectiveness of nursing interventions in alleviating perceived problems among
orthopaedic patients.
Author: Melba Sheila DeSouza MSc, Mphil
Source of the article: Science Direct
Keywords used: Nursing interventions, orthopaedic patients, patient problems, patient needs,
perception of nursing care
1. Rationale for choosing the article
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Our RLE will be exposed to the Philippine Orthopedic Center for only 2 weeks and we
would only meet or handle patients for 1 day only because of lectures and for the short

exposure. That is why I choose this article for my RLE so that we can have to know the
nursing interventions that is used in an orthopedic ward. This article will show us the
Effectiveness of the interventions that nurses usually administer to their patients based
from their problems.
2. Summary
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Traumatic injuries, accidents and aging related disorders in the musculoskeletal system
is one of the most life threatening events or need an immediate intervention.
Orthopedic patients also needs the basic nursing intervention we give to other patients
other than their orthopedic problem. These patients is not only being treated with their
orthopedic problem but they are also treated holistically as what Virginia Hendersons
principles and practice of nursing indicates that we nurses should consider our
patients biological, psychological, sociological and spiritual concepts. This research
articles objective is to know the problems as perceived by the hospitalized orthopedic
patient. Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. The researcher uses a tool that has
a checklist of perceived problems and a three point rating scale of effectiveness of
nursing interventions as 2, 1 and 0. Demographic data was also gathered. Perception of

problems and nursing intervention is composed of 4 sections: Biophysical problems,

psychosocial problems, spiritual problem and other need. The validity of the tool was
tested by experts of Medical-Surgical Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing specialties.
Formal written permission was obtained from the director of the institution and the
head nurse of the orthopedic ward was told by the researcher that the patients and the
nurses will not be interrupted with their daily routine. An informed consent was given
to the subjects and the investigator explain the purpose of the study, its confidentiality
and the importance of the served answers. A chi-square test was used for the association
between the variables and the problems. The majority of the subject were 60 and above
and more than half of them are males. Half of the subjects are literate and the majority
are earning members of their family. Most of them are hospitalized for longer than one
month with some are with cast, and on skeletal traction for having orthopedic injuries.
Biophysical problems includes (highest-lowest): confined to bed, pain, insomnia,
inability to walk, joint stiffness, burning micturition, urinary retention, anorexia/nausea,
backache, constipation, crutch walking, burning sensation, numbness, cough,
discomfort, stiff ankle, abdominal distention and diarrhea. While the psychological
problems includes (highest-lowest) Disturbed normal activities, boredom, dependence
on others, hospital expenses, spiritual needs, approach of nurses, question about illness,

and family support. Nursing interventions includes the basic nursing interventions,
orthopedic devices and facilities with medical administration as prescribed by their
physician.
3. Nursing implications
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This article will help nurses in the field to help patients with their perceived problems
as they would do it as patient centered. It will help them to know what interventions
would help them. This would also help student nurses and those in nursing education to
give them an idea on how patients would be treated. Though there are limitations with
this study as the male-female are not equal and analysis between them would not be
completed and interviews was taken in different times giving them the problem that are
not experienced in other times.