STROKES
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
TESTS & TREATMENTS
ABCD2 Stroke Scale
Nursing Care
100
The most common type of stroke.
What is ischemic?
100
Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of body.
What are some of the common symptoms of stroke?
100
A commonly ordered test to determine if a stroke has occurred and what kind of stroke.
What is a CT scan without contrast?
100

Patient's age.

What are Age Risk Factors?

100
This is a top priority in care of the patient with altered LOC who may have suffered a stroke (hint: one of the ABCs).
What is maintaining the airway?
200
Anticoagulants and thrombotics increase the risk of this type of stroke.
What is intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke?
200

Sudden onset, usually lasting less than an hour

What is TIA?

200
A commonly ordered test that gives very accurate images that show the presence, location, and size of aneurysms.
What is an MRI?
200

Unilateral Weakness with or without impaired speech OR impaired speech without unilateral weakness

What are Clinical Features of TIA?

200
Head of bed in Semi-Fowler's position (30 degrees) or higher.
What is the preferred position for patients with dysphagia?
300
The type of ischemic stroke caused by a clot or plaque fragment the travels through the bloodstream to the brain.
What is embolic?
300

Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

What are some common symptoms of hemorrhagic stroke?

300
Commonly ordered tests using IV radioactive compounds.
What are CTA and MRA?
300
Ask (or use pantomime to encourage) the patient to show teeth or raise eyebrows and close eyes.
What is Facial Palsy?
300
The earliest sign of neurological change.
What is altered level of consciousness (ALOC)?
400
The most common cause of intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke.
What is hypertension?
400
Sudden nausea and vomiting; brief loss of consciousness or a period of decreased consciousness (fainting, confusion, convulsions or coma).
What are some of the less common symptoms of stroke?
400
This clot-busting drug must be given within 3 hours or onset of stroke symptoms.
What is tPA?
400

Episode lasting > 60 minutes OR duration 10-59 mins.

What is Duration?

400
The nurse is responsible for protecting the patient from this.
What is injury?
500
The two most common causes of subarachnoic hemorrhagic stroke.
What are head trauma and aneurysm?
500

Onset often occurs during sleep

What a thrombotic stroke?

500

The FDA-approved device that is threaded through the artery in the brain using a balloon to improve cerebral blood flow

What is a brain stent?

500

ABCD2 score 6-7

What is hospitalization is required

500
This is needed by the family, along with instructions about how to visit a patient with ALOC.
What is emotional support?
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