Surgical nurses readiness for patient counselling

The study showed that surgical nurses have good knowledge of the contents of patient counselling, with the exception of welfare benefits, rehabilitation possibilities, and the effects of the disease on patients' families. The skills of patient counselling were mainly good. Moreover, the staff's attitude towards counselling was positive. Their readiness to use different counselling methods was good, but the number of methods used was limited. The material for patient counselling, the collaboration between staff members, and the possibilities to develop patient counselling were found to be good. The needs for improvement pertained to the facilities, room, and time reserved for patient counselling. The knowledge used in patient counselling was based on the nurses' experience and the ward routines. The nurses used two to three hours for patient counselling during each shift.