Acute Stroke: Understanding and Using the NIHSS

Course Code: REL-ACU-0-ASUUN

Hours: 1.25

Type: Online Course

Content Expiration Date: 12/31/2024

Learning Objectives:
State the primary purpose of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).
List all NIHSS items and areas of assessment that are used to test for stroke severity.
Calculate NIHSS scores that correspond to levels of stroke severity.

Outline:

Section 1: Introduction

About This Course

Learning Objectives

Section 2: About the NIHSS

Purpose

History

Overall Goal

Calculation

Specificity

Staff Education

Certification

Guidelines for Administration

Assess Over Time

Considerations for Certain Patient Populations

Review

Summary

Section 3: Administering the NIHSS

The Scale

1a: Level of Consciousness

1b: Level of Consciousness: Questions

1c: Level of Consciousness: Commands

2: Best Gaze

3: Visual

4: Facial Palsy

5a/b: Motor Arm (Left/Right)

6a/b: Motor Leg (Left/Right)

7: Limb Ataxia

8: Sensory

9: Best Language

10: Dysarthria

11: Extinction and Inattention (Formerly Neglect)

Scoring

Review

Summary

Section 4: Conclusion

Summary

Course Contributor

Resources

References

Instructor: Cathryn Ayers, RN

Cathryn Ayers, RN, MSN has nearly 10 years of critical care experience. She was active in multiple committees to improve patient safety, executed staff education activities, and managed the new graduate orientation program for those entering intensive care units. Cathryn obtained a license for massage and bodywork therapy in 2012 and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2016 with a Master of Science in Nursing Education. She has provided telephonic case management services and developed program materials to facilitate positive outcomes for people with rare conditions across the United States. Cathryn has a passion for teaching and helping others to be their best.

Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Nurses; Physicians; in the following settings: Acute Care Facility.

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To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.

Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.