Stroke Assessment/Complication

[Sara5229]

We have this sheet on out careplans and before you visit your patient you are supposed to fill it out... it asks what complications you are worried about today and what important assessments you will do specific to your client. The last few careplans I have done I had been putting concerns and assessments according to what had been stated about during shift report... (e.g. client has bed alarms.. keeps falling. I would put I was concerned about her safety and things I would do to monitor that) well .. I was told I was doing this portion wrong and i was supposed to be putting what complications and assessments i would be doing according to the patients diagnosis.... My patient was admitted for possible stroke and a diagnosis hadn't been made yet.. We haven't studied strokes yet so I'm wondering if someone could tell me what complications or concerns and assessments would be made to a possible stroke patient... I know a neuro check and would possible assess swallowing ability and paralysis on one side or the other, but what else? and no idea about complications..

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

a complication is another disease or condition that occurs because of the original problem and has an affect on the patient's prognosis. probably most known are the complications of obesity (breathing problems, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, gallbladder disease, early death).

i think some of the websites listed on this thread (https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/medical-disease-information-258109.html) include complications along with disease information. i have a book called nurse's 5-minute clinical consult: diseases from lippincott williams & wilkins that gives the complications for each of the diseases listed in it. for a stroke (cva) it lists these (page 762):

• malnutrition
  
• infection
  
• sensory impairment [vision]
  
• aspiration
  
• contractures
  
• skin breakdown
  
• deep vein thrombosis
  
• pulmonary emboli
  
• depression
  
• seizures
  

[misswoosie]

We have this sheet on out careplans and before you visit your patient you are supposed to fill it out... it asks what complications you are worried about today and what important assessments you will do specific to your client. The last few careplans I have done I had been putting concerns and assessments according to what had been stated about during shift report... (e.g. client has bed alarms.. keeps falling. I would put I was concerned about her safety and things I would do to monitor that) well .. I was told I was doing this portion wrong and i was supposed to be putting what complications and assessments i would be doing according to the patients diagnosis.... My patient was admitted for possible stroke and a diagnosis hadn't been made yet.. We haven't studied strokes yet so I'm wondering if someone could tell me what complications or concerns and assessments would be made to a possible stroke patient... I know a neuro check and would possible assess swallowing ability and paralysis on one side or the other, but what else? and no idea about complications..

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

I wonder what signs and symptoms the patients had? Your potential complications will be based on the patients symptoms.

As they have not diagnosed stroke yet I wonder what those are and assume there aren't classic signs of a full blown stroke.

Strokes are all different and can range from just loss of co-ordination or facial weakness to a full blown TACS where the patient will probably be completely dependent.Obviously completely different set of potential complications.