Importance of the nursing discharge letter in planning community nursing care

Abstract

Aim: The main objective of this research was to analyze
the nursing discharge letters sent to the Community
Nursing Service of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
(PGK) Health Center by the Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka and the Psychiatric Hospital Lopača in the period
from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.
Materials and methods: Data were analyzed from nursing discharge letters received by the outpatient service of the PGK Health Center, from the Rijeka Hospital Center, and the Lopača Psychiatric Hospital, as well as from the outpatient service’s medical database of the PGK Health Center.
Results: From January 1 to December 31, 2023, the
Community Nursing Service of the PGŽ Health Center
received 109 nursing discharge letters by e-mail. Community nurses carried out 32 visits within 24 hours, 16 visits within 1–3 days, and 17 visits after more than 3
days, while for 44 patients no community nurse visit was
recorded. Reasons for not visiting included the placement of 17 patients in nursing homes, the death of 4 patients within 24 hours after discharge, and the absence of a documented reason for 23 patients.
Conclusions: It is extremely important that the role of
the nursing discharge letter in planning post-hospital
healthcare is recognized within the healthcare system,
especially by community (visiting) nurses.