Introduction: Spinal cord damage leads to life changes, which decrease or disable one's ability to perform every day activities. Furthermore, it often causes physical changes, such as respiratory system malfunctions. Reducing and preventing such complications demands interdisciplinary treatment, which has to start immediately after the defect and continue throughout the patient care process. Reducing and preventing respiratory system complications can enable a person to have higher quality of life and can lead to a better rehabilitation outcome. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to study the role of a nurse in teaching lay caregivers the activities necessary to decrease and prevent respiratory complications in persons with spinal cord damage. Methods: We used a descriptive method for a theme review of scientific and professional literature, both Slovene and English. Identification of the literature was done with the help of data systems (COBISS) and bases (CINAHL through DiKUL, MEDLINE through PubMed).We reviewed the literature published between 2012 and 2022. Results: Managing the complications linked to spinal cord damage and teaching lay caregivers and patients are a task of the nurse, who provides rehabilitation medical care. With performing these tasks a patient and a lay caregiver are prepared for a higher-quality home life. Health-care workers must be able to properly convey the knowledge and information to the patient and lay caregiver so they learn as much as possible. Discussion and conclusion: Lay caregivers are an important part of informal care, general health and well-being of a person after spinal cord injury. Taking care of patients in their home environment is more effective and successful when the patient and lay caregivers are actively involved in the care process.
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