Continuity of care for patients recovering from Covid-19 under the angle of clinical management principles

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the strategies used by nurses at a university hospital to ensure continuity of care at hospital discharge for patients recovered from Covid-19, under the angle of the principles of clinical management. Method: A descriptive study with a qualitative approach, carried out with seven nurses on duty in the medical and gynecology/obstetrics clinics of a university hospital in the Midwest region of the country. The data was processed using IRaMuTeQ software and analyzed using Content Analysis. Results: The data resulted in five classes by the Descending Hierarchical Classification (DHC), which made up two categories: “Practices developed by nurses for continuity of care in the hospital environment” and “Continuity of care during discharge to the home”. The strategies used by the nurses were: daily care systematized in the nursing process and guidance both for preparation and for the day of discharge. Conclusion: The absence of an institutional protocol for safe discharge, as well as the position of nurse coordinator to manage the discharge of patients with Covid-19, can compromise the continuity of care for these patients.