GMCH Chandigarh - 2022
Medical Surgical Nursing
Medium

Evidence-Based clinical practice recommendations of nursing care of acute stroke patient includes all of the following except?

Appeared in: GMCH Chandigarh - 2022

Explanation

  • The correct option is an exception because it describes a passive action ('Observe the patient'), which is contrary to the principles of acute stroke management.
  • Evidence-based stroke care is defined by rapid, active, and time-sensitive interventions aimed at preserving brain function.
  • While nurses do observe patients, this is part of a continuous, active monitoring process (e.g., frequent neurological checks, vital signs) that guides immediate interventions, not a standalone, passive recommendation.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: This is a core component of stroke care. Rapid identification, often using tools like BE-FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time), and immediate triage are the first steps to activating the stroke system and initiating treatment.
  • Option B: This is the primary goal of acute stroke management. Enabling time-critical treatments like intravenous thrombolysis (tPA) or mechanical thrombectomy is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
  • Option D: This is a key evidence-based recommendation. Transferring patients to a dedicated acute stroke unit has been proven to reduce mortality and long-term disability through specialized, coordinated care.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
  • Visual 1: Flowchart - The Acute Stroke Care Pathway. This visual can illustrate the sequence of events from symptom onset to treatment, highlighting time-critical decision points like 'Door-to-CT' and 'Door-to-Needle'.
  • Visual 2: Infographic - The BE-FAST acronym. This provides a simple, memorable tool for rapid stroke identification, explaining what to look for in terms of Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, and Speech.
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Evidence-based nursing management of acute ischemic stroke to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
  • Nurses are central to the 'stroke chain of survival,' playing a vital role in rapid assessment, administering time-sensitive medications, and continuous monitoring for changes in neurological status.
  • Key time targets are critical in stroke care: Door-to-CT scan should be within 25 minutes, and Door-to-Needle (tPA administration) should be within 60 minutes of arrival.
  • Patient safety is paramount. Nurses must perform a swallow screen before giving anything by mouth (NPO status) to prevent aspiration pneumonia, a common and serious complication of stroke.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the question type. This is a negative-lead-in question because it uses the word 'except'. Your goal is to find the option that is NOT a standard practice.
  • Recall the core principle of acute stroke care: 'Time is Brain'. This principle emphasizes urgency and active intervention.
  • Evaluate each option against this principle. Ask yourself, 'Is this a rapid, active, and evidence-based intervention for acute stroke?'
  • Option A (Rapid identification), Option B (Time-critical treatment), and Option D (Transfer to stroke unit) are all active, time-sensitive interventions.
  • Option C ('Observe the patient') is a passive statement. While observation is part of nursing, it doesn't represent the specific, urgent actions required in the acute phase.
  • The option that is inconsistent with the core principle of active, urgent care is the correct answer.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Evidence-based nursing management of acute ischemic stroke.
  • Stem keywords: acute stroke, nursing care, evidence-based, clinical practice
  • Lead-in keywords: except
  • Negative lead-in flag: The question asks for the exception among the given options.

Question ID

QkcXmH15RzCdtVouJL90d1

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