Introduction: Due to severe brain injury almost 2% of the world population needs constant assistance in daily activities
until the end of life. Progress in the field of emergency and intensive medicine allows that the number of survivors increasing, so for the best possible treatment outcomes the entire time from injury to completion of the rehabilitation appropriate structured treatment should be implemented. Severe brain injury leaves consequences on the physical, cognitive and behavioral-emotional area, consequences occur in various combinations and affect the injured person and his family. Rehabilitation must be comprehensive, which includes medical, psychosocial and occupational field. The process of early and total rehabilitation must proceed from the accurate assessment of patient functional status, full cooperation in the multidisciplinary team at all levels (from diagnosis to implementation and evaluation) and the inclusion of the family is essential. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to present the role of nursing in the early rehabilitation of patient with severe brain injury on theoretical level. The objectives of the thesis are: to identify severe brain injury and its possible consequences, to present the importance of early and continuous rehabilitation, to explain the role of intensive care nurses in the early rehabilitation process on the basis of basic life activities, to show the importance of cooperation between different professional groups, to demonstrate the need for research topics. Methods: Descriptive method with a review of the scientific literature in English and Slovenian language was used in the time period between 2006 and 2017. Search in English language was performed in the databases MEDLINE and CINAHL. Basic literature in Slovenian language was searched in the national bibliographic catalog database COBIB.SI and by using the web browser Google scholar. Results: Nursing care is directly involved in all life activities in the early rehabilitation of patient with severe brain injury. The aim of early rehabilitation is patient, qualified for transfer to an institution for rehabilitation. Discussion and conclusion: Nursing care and assistance in the basic life activities complement with physiotherapy and occupational therapy rehabilitation. More visible and documented role of nursing in the early rehabilitation of patients with severe brain injury in the Slovenian area could be achieved with the treatment protocol
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