Stroke

Common Signs & Symptoms

100

You can pick up this neurological deficit after asking the patient to repeat simple phrases.

Trouble with speaking and understanding

200

While doing a physical assessment of the extremities, this neurological deficit can be revealed.

Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg

300

While doing a physical assessment and history, this symptom can be discovered by examining cranial nerves 3,4,6?

Trouble seeing in one or both eyes

400

A patient will verbalize this sign/symptom while doing obtaining the history of present illness.

Severe headache, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

500

While observing and evaluating a patients gait, they will verbalize this symptom.

Trouble with walking

Pharmacology

100

This drug is best known as a clot buster and when given within 3 hours it may reduce complications

Tissue plasminogen activator(TPA)

200

This medicine is a common medicine used to pain but also prevents blood clots from forming

Aspirin

300

This is a short-term intravenous medication to decrease the ability of the blood to clot

Heparin

400

A calcium channel blocker used to lower the blood pressure in stroke patients

Diltiazem

500

This medication is used to prevent and treat blood clots; it is a long term medication in which the INR must be closely monitored.

Coumadin(Warfarin)

Risk Factors

100

This is a non-modifiable risk factor related to gender

Men

200

This is a non-modifiable risk factor related to race

African Americans

300

This is a modifiable highly addictive lifestyle choice

Cigarette smoking

400

This is a modifiable risk factor related to a heart arrthymia

Atrial Fibrillation

500

This is a modifiable risk factor related to intake

Diet

Nursing Considerations

100

This is important during discharge teaching in order to prevent reoccurrance

Understanding stroke related signs and symptoms and knowing when to return to the hospital

200

There will be common deficits after a stroke, these teaching points will assist with quality of life

-Minimizing and complications should be individualized management (Speech/language therapy for dysphagia) (NG/percutaneous gastrostomy for nutritional/hydration status) (Assess for UTI which can lead to sepsis, bacteremia,dehydration)

300

This is an important nursing consideration to prevent permanent disabilities and difficulties performing ADL's.

Position to prevent contractures (use measures to relieve pressure and assist in maintaining good body alignment).

400

It is important to assist patients with this in order to prevent reoccurrance

Help patients modify stroke risk factors

500

Education for the patient is very important but whom else is integral with recovery and compliance with the plan of care

Patient's spouse/partner, family member, and other home caregivers

Random

100

This type of "ministroke" in which there is a brief period of stroke related symptoms in which may resolve

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

200

This is a modifiable lifestyle risk factor

Heavy/binge drinking Use of illicit drugs such as cocaine

300

This type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or ruptures

Hemmorrhagic stroke

400

If you ask the patient to smile, this is part of a quick assessment tool in order to determine if a patient is having a stroke

Ask the patient to smile Ask the patient to say a simple phrase to determine if the speech is slurred Ask the patient to raise both arms to determine arm drift

500

This type of stroke occurs when the arteries in the brain become narrowed or blocked which in turn reduces the blood flow

Ischemic stroke