Nursing Care in Patients with Injuries of The Facial Skeleton

The subject of this Bachelor Thesis is the care of patients suffering from injury to the facial bones. The thesis is divided into two main parts. The first part describes the theory; the second part takes a closer look at the practice. The theoretical part analyses the anatomy of the skull and facial bones, and the jaw. This part also describes the causes of fractures and other injuries, and their complications and further treatment. Attention is paid to nursing, post-operative care, nutrition, communication, pain and subsequent physiotherapy. The practical part sets four main points for the given work. The first one determines whether nurses have a sufficient amount of information concerning the nursing care of patients with injuries to the facial bones. The second point asks whether nurses are aware of the specifics of nursing cares for patients with embedded intermaxillary fixation in cases of upper or lower jaw injury. The aim of the third point is to find out whether nurses are aware of the specifics related to the nursing care of patients with embedded rubber bands in cases of upper or lower jaw injury. Finally, the fourth point identifies whether nurses observe the nursing principles regarding patients with injuries to the facial bones. The main purpose of this thesis is to set the answers to the hypotheses which were appointed to the aforesaid points. The first hypothesis proves that nurses are aware of the correct nursing care for patients with injuries to the facial bones. The second hypothesis reveals that nurses are aware of the specifics of nursing care for patients with embedded intermaxillary fixation in cases of upper or lower jaw injury. The third hypothesis indicates that the nurses are aware of the specifics of the nursing care of patients with embedded rubber bands in cases of upper or lower jaw injury. And the fourth hypothesis proves that nurses follow the nursing principles regarding patients with injuries to the facial bones. By means of the aforesaid hypotheses it is shown that nurses are fully aware of the nursing care of patients with injuries to the facial bones and that they follow the nursing principles with regard to these patients. The nurses are also well informed about the specifics of the nursing care of patients with embedded intermaxillary fixation or rubber bands. All hypotheses were proved. The results are based on interviews with nurses working in the surgery, traumatology, dentistry and otorhinolaryngology departments. They were asked by means of a questionnaire and the results of this enquiry were assessed by graphs. These results should motivate the nurses to improve the nursing care of patients with injuries to the facial bones. Therefore the brochure entitled ?How to take care of patients with injury to the facial bones? is attached to this thesis. The brochure is written in the form of interventions so that it is clear what the readers should concentrate on