Nihss stroke scale and float pool need advice

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all, I did the NIHSS test B online twice and failed. I just cant seem to get it. Any advice? I finish all 6 patients and get a message saying "I did not pass because I got more than 6 wrong out of 90 questions. I need this to stay in the float pool.. I recently joined... any suggestions would be great. Is there a tutor that teach Nihss??thanks

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there's a free webinar you might find useful. http://lern.la.gov/lern-stroke-system/stroke-webinar-series/ First one (neurological exam).

You might be over thinking everything (it's easy to do so). Does your facility have a stroke team you can reach out to?

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Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

Execute a "google" search for NIHSS test B and you will find many Youtube videos that may be helpful. The most common error is to "over score". Also, I don't know about your hospital, but mine offers a "live" class which if you attend they "give" you the answers. If you choose not to attend then it is up to you to pass on your own.

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I am having trouble with test group b as well. I probably shouldn't have tried to do it when I'm not feeling well and tired, but very frustrated to have to do it all over again. I got an 88% and need a 93.

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It’s hard to score because the video is awful. They testers on the video consistently walk in front of the camera and it turns into a guessing game with several.

May I ask how you are scoring ataxia? Many, many people mess that up.

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That was a big problem for me too! I couldn't see what they were doing! I didn't score well with ataxia and the facial ones....I couldn't tell if one eyebrow might be a little higher. The lady with the tubes....he didn't even test all of the areas and then we are supposed to score them? I have to have this done in 5 days. Not how I wanted to spend my days off.

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Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.
1 hour ago, runner502 said:

That was a big problem for me too! I couldn't see what they were doing! I didn't score well with ataxia and the facial ones....I couldn't tell if one eyebrow might be a little higher. The lady with the tubes....he didn't even test all of the areas and then we are supposed to score them? I have to have this done in 5 days. Not how I wanted to spend my days off.

I'm not sure if it is legit but Course Hero advertises they have the answers https://www.coursehero.com/register/?get_answer=16448272 of course you have to join and pay a fee.

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My best advice would be to keep rewinding and pausing on the patient until you are absolutely certain of the criteria... kind of like in real life with a stroke patient. If you are not sure, there is no harm in making them re-do that portion of the exam (though, admittedly, sometimes they become less willing or able to perform the specific action)… in the video, however, people can't get tired out by the pause button ?

I work on the neuro unit of a hospital that is a designated comprehensive stroke center and have to do these tests... Every. Single. Year. I have passed every one on the first try and I will definitely lend some credit to the pause and / or rewind features on the videos ?

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Thank you. I passed with a 97% on the first try with group A. This time on group b I made the mistake of rushing through it and taking it when I had a headache. So I am sure that was part of my problem. I should have taken more time. Hopefully if I do that I will do better my next try.

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13 hours ago, runner502 said:

I am having trouble with test group b as well. I probably shouldn't have tried to do it when I'm not feeling well and tired, but very frustrated to have to do it all over again. I got an 88% and need a 93.

I finally passed nihss on the 3 rd and i found it stressful. Have you passed it yet?? Pm me for tips if u like

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I finally passed on the third try. Pm me if u want some tips.

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Specializes in ICU.
On 5/30/2019 at 4:56 PM, myoglobin said:

Execute a "google" search for NIHSS test B and you will find many Youtube videos that may be helpful. The most common error is to "over score". Also, I don't know about your hospital, but mine offers a "live" class which if you attend they "give" you the answers. If you choose not to attend then it is up to you to pass on your own.

This! I over scored on the online test every time. It took multiple attempts to figure out that.?

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