We all wish our loved ones to stay happy and healthy forever. But, despite our best intentions, there are times when they can be afflicted by some disease or the other. In some cases, knowledge is our biggest savior in such times. For example, if someone is getting a stroke, time is of the essence. An immediate response based on correct knowledge can be the difference between life and death.

A stroke is a medical condition (Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)), where the blood flow to the brain is not sufficient. This may be due to a temporary blockage or complete stoppage of blood flow due to several reasons. When a part of the brain does not get sufficient blood flow, the cells surrounding that part start dying. If the blood supply can be resumed before a large number of cells die, the patient can be saved and revived. Thus, the quick response of the patient or the nearby people is stressed by the entire medical fraternity.

Here is a list of symptoms you must look out for to confirm whether somebody is having a stroke

1. Difficulty in speaking clearly – Ask them to repeat a simple sentence. If the speech is slurred or they are not able to understand the sentence, they may be having a stroke.

1. Difficulty in moving – Ask the person to raise both hands above their head. If one of the hands starts falling down or is not moving, they may be having a stroke

1. Unclear vision – The person may be having difficulty seeing objects in front of them or may see them as blurred

1. Headache and Dizziness – If the person is having severe headache, nausea, and dizziness, chances are they are having a stroke

If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, call the emergency health care immediately. Also, while waiting for the ambulance, keep an eye on the patient, so that they may not fall or hurt themselves. Stroke nursing care is a specialized field, so do not attempt to find a solution yourself, instead contact the professionals as soon as possible.

There are primarily two reasons behind a person having a stroke and these need to be clearly identified to ensure proper nursing care plan for stroke patients. A stroke can occur either because one of the arteries supplying blood to the brain is blocked partially or fully or the blood vessels in the brain are leaking or have burst.

The types of stroke and hence the nursing care of a stroke patient in the acute phase are based on the reason of the stroke and are as follows

• Ischemic Stroke – Such strokes occur due to stoppage of blood flow (ischemia) to the brain. This can be caused because the arteries supplying the blood are blocked with plaque or clots. Sometimes, a clot in another part of the body can travel to the brain with the blood, causing the stroke.
• Hemorrhagic Stroke – This type of stroke occurs when the blood vessels in the brain are leaking or burst to let the blood overflow in the brain. This can happen due to aneurysms, extremely high blood pressure, overdose of blood thinners or thin-walled blood vessels getting tangled in an abnormal manner and tangling.
• Transient Ischemic Stroke – Sometimes a person may face stroke-like symptoms for a brief period of time and then resume a normal life. This is because the blood flow to the brain is temporarily blocked and then resumes. This condition (TIA) must not be ignored and you should ensure to get a good stroke nursing care. TIA is also known as a mini-stroke and patients having had TIA are more vulnerable to get an actual stroke. Thus, precaution is mandatory

Panicking is obvious when someone is having a stroke, however, that is not going to help at all. Instead one must contact qualified professionals who are trained to give nursing care of a stroke patient in the acute phase. The first thing checked by these professionals trained in CPR is to ensure Circulation, Airway and Breathing to ensure the blood circulation is normal and the patient is able to breathe.

The next steps in the nursing care plan for CVA patients consist of getting IV lines inserted, checking oxygen supply or ensuring additional supply, blood tests and getting non-contrast CT Scans done. Based on these, the professional may conclude whether or not thrombolytic therapy (tPA) or clot retrieval (using catheters) can be considered.

As can be clearly understood, the nursing care plan for CVA is an intensive and involved process and hence must be carefully planned out. Some of the most common activities in a nursing care plan for a cerebrovascular accident include

1. Evaluating Cerebral Tissue Perfusion
2. Monitoring Vital Statistics
3. Assessing the pupils including size, shape, and reaction to light
4. Evaluate speech conditions
5. Medicine administration as required and prescribed

Nursing Interventions and Rationales

There are quite a few interventions possible even when providing nursing care for stroke patients at home like

Evaluating Cerebral Tissue Perfusion – Checking the supply of oxygen can help the nursing team assess the patient’s condition in a much better way. When done as part of a nursing care plan for CVA, this helps in the identification of the current situation of the patient.

Monitoring Vital Statistics – One of the important nursing interventions for stroke is to keep a strict check on the patient’s vital statistics and monitor even the slightest change that helps in early diagnosis of a complication

Evaluate Speech Conditions – This part of the nursing care plan for stroke helps to find how the patient is doing if they are alert. This may indicate the degree of the impact and help plan the next step

Administering medicine – It is important to remember that nursing interventions for stroke are most effective when given in a timely manner. Hence, ensure the medicine is administered promptly

An extremely critical part of a nursing care plan for CVA patient is the exercises they are made to do like

1. Raising their hands
2. Turning their palms
3. Wrist Movements

A comprehensive nursing care plan for stroke will include medication as well as an exercise for the patient.

At Care24, we understand that nursing care for stroke patients at home is one of the most difficult situations a family may face, both in terms of what needs to be done and whether this is enough or not. Thus, our team is specially trained in CVA nursing care to take proper care of your loved ones.

Now, you do not need to worry about nursing care plan for stroke patients. Just contact us or visit us and we will take care of your need for CVA nursing care for your family.