Characteristics of Clients Using Home Visiting Nursing Services at Nighttime and Early Morning in Japan

Abstract

Our objectives were to classify the characteristics of clients such as their diseases and the period of services provided to clients who are using home visiting nurse agency (HVNA) services at nighttime. The nighttime HVNA services provided to 31 clients were analyzed. Two major reasons for cancellation of nighttime and early morning HVNA service were identified: (1) cancellation due to death, and (2) cancellation as a result of achieving goals for receiving the service. As to the former reason, those who died of terminal cancer used the service for approximately 2 months, whereas those who died of other causes used the service for approximately 11 months. The establishment of such a service system requires the development of a method to achieve stable management of an HVNA.