Call a Stroke Alert if your patient shows

Call a Stroke Alert if your patient shows any of these signs and symptoms: Purpose to quickly identify and treat patients with new signs and symptoms of stroke to identify acute ischemic stroke patients who may be candidates for t-PA or mechanical clot removal SUDDEN onset of numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body) • Dial 55* to call a Stroke Alert • Report: “Stroke Alert” • State: Location * Or using your Vocera, “Urgently Broadcast to Stroke Alert Team” What you need to know when the Stroke Alert team arrives: SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination SUDDEN and severe headache with no known cause What happens to my patient when I call a Stroke Alert? Bedside assessment To CT To ED Bring the following items into the room: blood glucose monitor, COW, Dynamap, Stroke Alert Binder, Patient’s Chart • Obtain blood glucose level, • obtain vital signs, • be aware of changes in patient, • be prepared to give info to Rapid Response Nurse Call pt’s attending physician to notify of stroke alert, Charge Nurse call for transporter (for CT) Perform NIHSS & Dysphagia Screen, Stroke Alert Assist Flex Nurse, (3 W) Nurse Accompany Flex Nurse & pt to CT • Speak with the person who called the stroke alert • Find out when pt last seen normal Rapid Response Nurse • Find out what prompted the alert • Go through exclusion criteria list & decide if pt is a candidate for intervention • Obtain verbal orders from ED physician to take pt to CT scanner & bring the pt to the ED to await results from Radiology • Enter the orders for Lab & CT using ED physician’s name as ordering MD Fingerstick results Current meds Patient’s Nurse Stay in the room and be available to answer questions • Call ED physician & give report of the situation When patient was last seen in the normal state Medical/Surgical hx and pertinent admission info/any surgeries CNA SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding language SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes Stroke Alert Person who called the Stroke Alert Lab Draw before going to CT (if poss) – results are needed within 45 min To CT within 20 min from announcement of Stroke Alert T-PA, if eligible, within 1 hour • Start filling out Stroke Alert Record • Take pt to CT, allow Lab technician, if present, to draw blood before leaving, take pt’s chart & completed NIHSS form with you • After CT take pt to ED, give report, leave chart and NIHSS/dysphagia forms with pt • Notify shift supervisor/bed placement of potential change