Knowledge and Practice Regarding Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke among Nurses of Pokhara, Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is a medical emergency and care provided during first hours is critical in shaping patients’ long-term recovery and prognosis. Many studies emphasize that nurses play a pivotal role in rapid identification and triage of patients with acute stroke, initial assessment, emergency treatment and coordinating the timely transfer to critical care units. Each critical care nurse must know that time is brain while caring for ischemic stroke patients.
Aim: We aimed to find out the level of knowledge and practice regarding management of acute ischemic stroke among nurses in Pokhara, Nepal.
Methods: A Cross sectional descriptive research design was used where a total of 107 purposively selected nurses working in Intensive Care Unit and Emergency department were enrolled in the study.
Result Among 107 nurses, 83(77.6%) nurses were Proficiency level nurses whereas 64(59.8%) had clinical experience of 1-5 years. 97(90.7%) had either critical care or emergency management training.87 (81.35) and 20(18.7%) were working in Intensive care units and emergency department respectively. 68(63.60%) nurses had knowledge score below mean i.e. unsatisfactory knowledge and 39(36.40%) nurses had above mean score.
Conclusion Nurses working with stroke patients should be trained and provided with learning resources regarding management of acute ischemic stroke by health institutions. Competency and practice of nurses working with stroke patients should be assessed periodically.