Neurological assessment by nurses using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale: implementation of best practice guidelines.

Neurological assessment by nurses using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale: implementation of best practice guidelines. Can J Neurosci Nurs. 2008;30(3):31-42 Authors: Gocan S, Fisher A Abstract Assessment is an essential nursing skill that gathers clinical information to strengthen decisions about health interventions and priorities inpatient care delivery. Neurological assessment of the acute stroke survivor provides the cornerstone for early diagnosis, appropriate prognostic evaluation, and optimal management to obtain favourable patient outcomes. The nursing approach to neurological assessment has been enhanced in recent years through the development of new evidence-based assessment tools and the support of best practice guidelines. Based on gaps seen in clinical practice and current best practice guideline recommendations, neurological nurses from The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) identified the need to assess acute stroke survivors using a standardized neurological assessment tool. In 2004, a Registered Nurses of Ontario (RNAO) nursing advanced clinical practice fellowship provided the opportunity for the development of expertise in stroke assessment and establishment of recommendations for neurological nursing assessment at TOH. As a result, standards for nursing neurological assessment have been adopted at TOH using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). This paper will review current evidence and best pra...
Source: Canadian Journal of Neuroscience Nursing - Category: Nursing Tags: Can J Neurosci Nurs Source Type: research