Nursing Leadership Collaboration for Rehabilitation of Polytrauma Patients

This article describes a variety of nursing issues that emerged over a 3‐year period on polytrauma rehabilitation nursing units and the leadership roles and strategies that were used to meet the rehabilitation needs of newly injured servicemembers who served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Nursing's leadership responsibilities focus on three primary areas: patient advocacy, family centeredness, and advocacy for staff. Collaboration among the four national polytrauma rehabilitation centers (PRCs) run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has enhanced the skill set for nursing staff members. These rehabilitation nurses possess the strong skills necessary to assess complex patient cases involving blast injuries, as well as strengthened interpersonal competencies in family dynamics, family education, and team function.     

Mechanisms of injury in wartime

A significant number of wounded servicemembers are returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the U.S. government finds itself with more wounded servicemembers than its systems can handle, the wounded are beginning to use private rehabilitation facilities. Mechanisms of injury in war are unlike those of most injuries encountered in civilian life. Rehabilitation nurses in both military and private rehabilitation facilities can benefit from learning about the mechanisms of injury in war to better help their patients and anticipate potential and hidden complications. This article reviews the mechanisms of injury in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the unique characteristics of military personnel, and the implications for rehabilitation nurses.