Stroke Question

[scubadooII]

Can someone help clarify something please

In school, we were always taught to approach a stroke pt from the unaffected side...

And now while studying I see that when a patient has unilateral neglect (dont all stroke pt have unilateral neglect?) from a stroke, you approach them from the affected side, placing commode, personal items all on the affected side...

Im sure Im missing something, can someone help??? This is really bothering me...lol.

I cant wait till Im done studying:banghead:

[nightmare, RN]

In unilateral neglect they quite simply ignore their affected side.So ,under the principle of 'use it or lose it' we try and make them use the affected side by placing things on that side and approaching them from that side so that they have to acknowledge it.

[scubadooII]

In unilateral neglect they quite simply ignore their affected side.So ,under the principle of 'use it or lose it' we try and make them use the affected side by placing things on that side and approaching them from that side so that they have to acknowledge it.

Ok, I get that...But why then, are we taught to approach stroke pt from the unaffected side...What am I missing?

Dont all/most stroke pt have some type of unilateral neglect?

[nightmare, RN]

Not all of them,no.A lot are very positive about their strokes and recovery and do their best to work with the HP's to get back as much function as they can.The quicker the brain is stimulated to find other pathways the better.

[scubadooII]

Not all of them,no.A lot are very positive about their strokes and recovery and do their best to work with the HP's to get back as much function as they can.The quicker the brain is stimulated to find other pathways the better.

Sort of like collateral circulation? Im reviewing for the NCLEX and in one paragraph, in Saunders under Unilateral Neglect says to approach from the affected side. Next paragraph, says to approach from the unaffected side...I just dont understand - what am I missing??

Im afraid that if i see a question on the subject, I wont know how to answer...?

So are you saying that if there is no unilateral neglect to approach on the unaffected side?

[nightmare, RN]

Yes,but of course you have to know if they are neglecting that side? How would you decide that?

[scubadooII]

sorry to be a pest, but why the contradictions in the stroke pt..Its very difficult to explain what Im trying to say...I get that you approach someone w/ unilateral negelect from the affected side to show them that the side exists...but why then does it also say to approach them from the unaffected side???

[nightmare, RN]

Is your book saying to approach stroke patients from the unaffected side or is it saying approach patients with unilateral neglect from the unaffected side?

Think of it this way.If someone is your patient and has not had a stroke do you always approach them from the same side?

[scubadooII]

Is your book saying to approach stroke patients from the unaffected side or is it saying approach patients with unilateral neglect from the unaffected side?

Think of it this way.If someone is your patient and has not had a stroke do you always approach them from the same side?

The book says both. Approach the stroke pt from the unaffected side, and the pt w/ unilateral neglect from the unaffected side. In school we were also taught to approach from the unaffected side, along w/ commodes and pt belongings, tables ect...

Im just being a pest because Im taking my NCLEX next week & am scared Im going to see a question about this and not know how to answer

[nightmare, RN]

Do you have a tutor that you could check out the answer with? This would probably be your best course of action before your exam.

[scubadooII]

Do you have a tutor that you could check out the answer with? This would probably be your best course of action before your exam.

Nope, just books..maybe i'll look in my med surg book

Thanks

[nightmare, RN]

I hope you get a definitive answer before your exam.