![[ Visit Client Website ]](images/banner.gif)
Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to know that the Preparedness for Care giving Scale is brief and easily self administered by the primary family caregiver.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to know that nurses evaluate caregiver preparedness before patient’s transition from acute care settings to other settings.
Method: Preparedness for Care giving scale created by Archbald,et.al in 1990 is a caregiver self rated instrument that consists of 8 items that asks caregivers how well prepared they are for care giving role providing physical care, emotional support, setting up of home support service and dealing with the stress of care giving. Responses are rated on a 5 point scale ranging from 0 (not at all prepared) to 4 (very well prepared). The higher the score, the more prepared the caregiver is, the lower the score the less prepared the caregiver is.
Results: Preparedness for Caregiver Scale was used by the Geriatric trained nurses in two geriatric units. The scale was used on 18 caregivers. Total score achievable is 32. Of the 18 caregivers assessed, 5 scored 30 to 32, meaning they were very well prepared for their care giving role. 6 scored 20 to 23 meaning they were quite well prepared for their care giving role. 4 scored 12 to 15, meaning they were not quite well prepared for their care giving role. 3 scored 4 to 8 meaning they were not at all prepared for their care giving role.
Conclusion: Preparedness for Care giving Scale is brief and easily self administered by the primary family caregiver. In addition to the 8 item responses caregivers can specify in writing areas in which they feel unprepared to provide care.