The Role of a Nurse in Care of a Patient with Mononucleosis

Theoretical background Infectious mononucleosis belongs to relatively widespread viral infectious diseases in the Czech Republic. Epstein-Baar virus (EBV) participates in occurrence of the infection by 80 %, infectious mononucleosis may more rarely be caused by cytomegalovirus. Each individual factually suffers from infection caused by EBV during his/her life, however its course is unapparent in most cases. An affected individual or an individual not affected, who is a virus carrier may be considered the source of the infection. Infectious mononucleosis usually affects children and teenagers, in older individuals the infection is quite rare. The disease might start rapidly or gradually with prodromes like headache, sore throat, nausea, fatigue and perspiration. Infectious mononucleosis is often confused with other diseases like e.g. tonsillitis, or more serious progress of flue, particularly for the symptoms accompanying the disease. Fever, lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly are the most frequent symptoms. The disease may also cause numerous unpleasant complications, particularly hematologic, neurologic, cardio-pulmonary and autoimmunity complications. A nurse plays a very substantial role in client care. It is very important for a nurse to have sufficient knowledge and to know the right procedure of all interventions he/she meets within diagnostics and treatment of infectious mononucleosis. These are particularly biological material collection, per os administration or intravenous administration of medicines. A nurse should also be familiar with the Priessnitz compress application technique. In non-self-sufficient clients a nurse is also responsible for client's hygiene. A nurse has an important role in client education providing information on dietetic measures. A nurse has to lead a client to adherence to the prescribed diet and body calm. Everything depends on client's current condition. A client should also avoid mental strain during convalescence. We should note that not all forms of infectious mononucleosis require hospitalization. The aim of the thesis The aim of the thesis was to find out the role of nurses in the care of patients with infectious mononucleosis and also to find how satisfied patients with the nursing care and education are after going through mononucleosis. This was why the following research questions were chosen: What is the role of a nurse in care of a patient with mononucleosis? How satisfied are patients with the nursing care after going through mononucleosis? How satisfied are patients with education in diet regime adherence after going through mononucleosis? Applied Methods Qualitative research was chosen for finding out the required information. The information was gained by means of deep interviews with nurses working at the infectious department of České Budějovice Hospital and with clients after going through infectious mononucleosis. All the interviews were recorded on a voice recorder and then transcribed. The transcribed interviews were subject to detailed analysis by the paper and pencil method with open coding. Results Six categories were set upon analysis of the interviews with nurses: Awareness of the infectious mononucleosis disease among nurses, Nursing care of a client with infectious mononucleosis, Regime measures, Information on dietetic measures, Recommendations after infectious mononucleosis and Education of a client with infectious mononucleosis. Five categories were set upon detailed analysis of the interviews with the clients: Recommended treatment, Nursing care, Recommended measures, Methods of information communication and Information sources for clients. Subcategories, in which the key data are coded, are assigned to the individual categories