Nursing Care Plan For Stroke

Stroke, the loss of blood flow to a part of the brain, is a serious illness that requires the full cooperation and involvement of patient and caregiver. The goal of nursing care is to promote comfort and recovery through individualized treatment plans designed to meet each patient’s special needs.

Review symptoms and how to recognize stroke.

• Review the symptoms and how to recognize stroke
• Discuss how to quickly get help
• Discuss how to call for help

If you suspect that you or someone else is having a stroke, call 911 immediately!

Assess and monitor vital signs, especially B/P.

Vital signs are taken at least every 4 hours, but the patient’s condition may require that you take vital signs more frequently. If the patient is having a stroke, take vital signs hourly or more often.

You must monitor the following:

• Blood pressure
• Pulse rate (heart rate)
• Respiratory rate (breathing rate)

Administer medications as ordered.

Medications may be given orally or intravenously. They may be taken as prescribed, or as needed. You should take your medications exactly as directed by the doctor for them to be most effective.

If you are not sure about taking a medication, ask your health care provider before administering it.

Encourage patient to participate in all aspects of care.

Encourage the patient to participate in all aspects of care, including:

• Following instructions from the nursing staff and other members of the health care team.
• Practicing good habits, such as regular exercise, reducing fat and salt intake, getting enough sleep, quitting smoking or using alcohol in moderation.
• Following doctor’s orders for medications prescribed by your neurologist or primary physician to control symptoms (such as dizziness) caused by stroke.

Promote adequate rest, sleep and nutrition.

• Promote adequate rest
• Promote adequate sleep
• Promote adequate nutrition

Encourage patient to attend scheduled appointments.

Encourage the patient to attend scheduled appointments.

Inform the patient that you will be scheduling follow-up visits with their healthcare provider and helping them schedule appointments with other providers, as needed.

If possible, provide transportation to and from appointments. It is important that patients attend all of their scheduled medical appointments so they can continue receiving proper care. If you are unable to provide transportation for any reason (e.g., if you are off work or if your car is unavailable), explain this to the patient and ask them about alternate modes of transportation (e.g., public transit). Encourage them to tell any health care staff who have treated them recently about any difficulties they may have had getting around town since their stroke occurred so that these issues can be addressed during future treatment sessions

Refer to community agencies or home health care services as needed, along with counseling programs or support groups to assist patient with emotional needs and stress management.

Refer to community agencies or home health care services as needed, along with counseling programs or support groups to assist patient with emotional needs and stress management.

• Community agencies can provide help with financial and legal issues.
• Support groups can help with emotional issues.
• Home health care services can help with physical needs, such as helping the patient learn how to prevent further stroke episodes by making lifestyle changes and adhering to medical instructions and recommendations from physicians.

Stroke is a serious illness requiring careful management by the patient and caregiver

Stroke is a serious illness requiring careful management by the patient and caregiver. Stroke can be fatal if not treated quickly. Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the United States, causing long-term physical, cognitive, and emotional problems.

It’s important to remember that stroke can be prevented by taking steps to maintain a healthy lifestyle:

Stroke is a serious illness requiring careful management by the patient and caregiver. It can be life-threatening if not treated appropriately, so it’s important that you know what to do if someone has a stroke. First, call 911 immediately and then follow these steps: