Acute Ischemic Stroke
Nursing’s Pivotal Role
Susie Fisher, RN, BSN
Regional Program Manager
Providence Stroke Center
Portland, OR
, Mr. Jones, 57 y/o divorced father of 3 young adult children,
owner of own successful business, severe stroke while @
dinner w/ friends.
EMS to Primary Stroke Center, NIHSS 20+, received t-PA
and interventional clot retraction, still left with major
deficits: aphasia, R sided weakness, poor swallow.
What is the impact on Mr. Jones, his family, his business,
his future?
What role can nursing play?
Why what we do matters
, Mrs. Smith, 73 y/o female, awoke with inability to speak,
inability to get out of bed.
9-1-1, EMS to PSC, NIHSS 12, unable to receive t-PA
due to unknown timeframe
Found to have new-onset atrial fibrillation while on
telemetry on stroke unit.
What is the impact of nursing care for Mrs. Smith and
what does her future stroke prevention look like?
, Third leading cause of death in the U.S.
(270,000 deaths per year)
Leading cause of adult disability
Very costly to our health system and individuals/families
◦ Medical costs as well as lost earnings/productivity
Women suffer 60,000 more strokes per year than men
Circulation 2008 Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics
How common is stroke?
Nursing’s Pivotal Role
Susie Fisher, RN, BSN
Regional Program Manager
Providence Stroke Center
Portland, OR
, Mr. Jones, 57 y/o divorced father of 3 young adult children,
owner of own successful business, severe stroke while @
dinner w/ friends.
EMS to Primary Stroke Center, NIHSS 20+, received t-PA
and interventional clot retraction, still left with major
deficits: aphasia, R sided weakness, poor swallow.
What is the impact on Mr. Jones, his family, his business,
his future?
What role can nursing play?
Why what we do matters
, Mrs. Smith, 73 y/o female, awoke with inability to speak,
inability to get out of bed.
9-1-1, EMS to PSC, NIHSS 12, unable to receive t-PA
due to unknown timeframe
Found to have new-onset atrial fibrillation while on
telemetry on stroke unit.
What is the impact of nursing care for Mrs. Smith and
what does her future stroke prevention look like?
, Third leading cause of death in the U.S.
(270,000 deaths per year)
Leading cause of adult disability
Very costly to our health system and individuals/families
◦ Medical costs as well as lost earnings/productivity
Women suffer 60,000 more strokes per year than men
Circulation 2008 Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics
How common is stroke?
