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allied
academies
Current Pediatric Research| Volume: 22
November 28-29, 2018 | Dubai, UAE
15
th
World Congress on
Pediatrics, Clinical Pediatrics and Nutrition
28
th
International Conference on
Nursing Practice
Joint Event
&
The development of stroke code activation for inpatient hospital: How to prepare Nurses in action?
Elmer Javier Catangui
King Abdulaziz Medical City, Saudi Arabia
A
stroke code activation for in-hospital patients will be
introduced at the National Guard Health Affairs (King
AbdulazizMedical CityRiyadh, (KAMC), Kingdomof Saudi Arabia
in order to address delays of identifying stroke on inpatient
wards and communication barriers about the need of urgent
medical intervention. Nurses play a significant role in activating
a stroke code since they are the first to recognize stroke
symptoms in theward. Prior to the launching of the stroke code
activation, developing departmental policies on criteria for
stroke code activation and increasing awareness among nurses
regarding prompt recognition of stroke symptoms in the ward
are therefore imperative.
A stroke code activation pathway protocols for in patients was
developed in order to facilitate a rapid process of assessing
patient with a suspected stroke and to provide a timely
administration of intravenous thrombolysis and thrombectomy
treatments. Also, a Stroke Activation session and Fast Session
(SAFE), a nursing education initiative was introduced and
implemented in October 2017. It is a 30- minute daily protected
session for nurses that underpin the following key concepts: a.
What is a stroke code activation? b. What are the criteria for
stroke code activation? c. How to recognize stroke symptoms
using Face Arm Speech and Time (FAST) tool d. What is
thrombolysis and thrombectomy therapy? e. What is the role
of a nurse in the stroke code activation? It was facilitated by the
nurse specialist and was held at the large auditorium to cater all
KAMC nurses.
More than 1500 nurses are adequately trained, prepared
and ready to facilitate the stroke code activation. The stroke
code activation pathway protocol has been disseminated
to all health allied professionals (nurses, physicians, and the
multidisciplinary team) to inform the process. To date, a
mock stroke code activation is planned to initiate in the units
to refresh nurses’ and physicians’ facilitating and following the
stroke thrombolysis pathway.
Education remains to be the cornerstone in preparing nurses
in action the inpatient stroke code activation project. It is an
exciting learning opportunity for all nurses to get involved in
the hyperacute management of stroke care. It is an excellent
example of empowering nurses to take into an advanced level
of nursing expertise.
e:
Catanguiel@ngha.med.saPediatrics and Clinical Pediatrics 2018
& Nursing Practice 2018, Volume 22
DOI: 10.4066/0971-9032-C2-006