Paradigm for SCI nurse competency on adult-geriatric SCI rehabilitation unit.

This article is based upon an SCI Model Project, funded by the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses (AASCIN). The purpose of this project was to develop a model to validate theoretical and practical knowledge of Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses in an SCI rehabilitation setting. The investigators were direct care providers in a 68 bed SCI rehabilitation service at the James A.

Improving continuity of care by evaluation of post-discharge outcomes.

Evaluation of nursing care is being expanded to identify and assure attainment of patient outcomes. Ideally, evaluation of care will occur throughout all phases of treatment and include perceptions of the patient and/or significant others. A framework for patient outcomes as proposed by Marek (1989) was useful in defining outcomes for newly injured and chronically skin-compromised patients with spinal cord injury.