Nurses' Perspectives of Person-Centered Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation in a Digital Hospital.

PURPOSE: Nurses' perspectives on electronic medical record (eMR) use and compatibility with person-centered care (PCC) in rehabilitation were explored.

DESIGN

This cross-sectional, qualitative study involved nurses practicing in a spinal cord injury service within the first Australian tertiary hospital to implement a large-scale eMR system.

METHODS

Ten focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis.

FINDINGS: The three themes were (1) discovering how eMR fits in a specialty setting, (2) making eMR work through adaptability, and (3) realizing the impact of eMR inclusion in the nurse-patient relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

The eMR introduction triggered compensatory practices to manage the complexities and shortcomings of electronic documentation. Nurses adapted routines and reoriented workflows to preserve PCC.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: While absorbing eMR-driven changes in documentation, rehabilitation nurses must in parallel manage evolving nursing practice norms in the digital environment in order to sustain PCC. This requires strategic foresight and commitment.