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Standardizing neurological assessments
Laura A Iacono1, Celia Wells, Kathy Mann-Finnerty
1Questions or comments about this article may be directed to Laura A. Iacono, RN MSN CNRN CCRN, at liacono@nshs.edu. She is a Nurse Manager in the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY. Celia Wells, RN PhD(c), is the Assistant Director of Nursing Education, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY. Kathy Mann-Finnerty, RN MBA MA, is an AVP, Clinical Initiatives, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, New York, NY.
Standardized neurological assessment tools were developed to improve patient evaluation and communication for neuroscience patients, addressing needs for stroke, general neurology, and coma cases.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Clinical Assessment
- Healthcare Standardization
Background:
- Neurological status evaluation is critical for patient care.
- Existing assessment tools like the Glasgow Coma Scale and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale can be cumbersome.
- A need exists for standardized, yet adaptable, neurological assessment tools for diverse patient populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and implement standardized neurological examination protocols for neuroscience patients.
- To streamline assessment and communication of neurological conditions within a health system.
- To provide clinicians with appropriate tools for various patient scenarios, including stroke, general neurosurgery/neurology, and coma.
Main Methods:
- Initiated a project to standardize neurological assessments for neuroscience patients.
- Developed three distinct neurological examination protocols: Basic Neurological Check, Coma Neurological Check, and NIH Stroke Scale/Stroke Neurological Check.
- Extended the implementation from a local campus to the entire health system with stakeholder support.
Main Results:
- Successfully developed and defined three specialized neurological examination tools.
- These tools address the specific assessment needs of acute stroke, general neurosurgery/neurology, and comatose patients.
- The initiative aimed to improve standardization and communication in neurological patient assessment.
Conclusions:
- The developed neurological examinations provide standardized yet tailored approaches for assessing neuroscience patients.
- These tools aim to reduce ambiguity and improve the efficiency of neurological assessments.
- Implementation across a health system supports consistent and effective patient care communication.
