Nursing Care for Stroke Patients: Current Practice and Future Needs.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Nursing Practice
• Public Health

Background:

• Stroke is a leading global cause of death and disability.
• Stroke nurses are crucial in implementing best practices and guidelines for stroke patient care.
• This study investigates current nursing practices for stroke patients in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine and evaluate the existing nursing practices for stroke patient management in Saudi Arabia.
• To identify variations in nursing care between stroke units and intensive care units.
• To highlight areas for improvement in stroke nursing to align with international standards.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed.
• Data were collected from 131 nurses in stroke and intensive care units between February and June 2022.
• Electronic self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in nursing practices were observed between stroke units and intensive care units.
• Key areas with significant variations include stroke code activation, patient transfer, use of NIHSS and modified Rankin scale, interventions for neglect and hemianopsia, and psychosocial support.
• Differences were also noted in post-stroke depression screening, psychosocial needs assessment, patient emotional expression, and patient/family education on stroke prevention.

Conclusions:

• There is an urgent need for dedicated stroke units staffed by specialized stroke nurses.
• Implementing structured stroke-care programs is essential to enhance nursing practice and improve outcomes for stroke survivors.
• Current nursing practices require enhancement to meet international standards of stroke care.