Stroke and women.

Abstract

An important aspect of nursing care is to assist patients in the process of adaptation as proposed by Roy. An individual's response to the diagnosis of stroke and the everchanging environment affords the nurse a tremendous opportunity to assess the patient and factors that may ultimately influence quality of living. Given the devastating consequences of stroke, the efforts directed at improving patient compliance are well placed. Nurses have the opportunity to teach those patients under their direct care as well as those individuals in the community setting. Nurses can also play an instrumental role in health promotion strategies, incorporating lifestyle modifications as well as information based on medication therapy. Taking advantage of professional organizations such as the National Stroke Association, the American Heart Association, and the multiple neuroscience organizations who have developed the Brain Attack Coalition, materials can be accessed and used for acute care and community health education programs. Acute care nurses interact with a variety of women on a daily basis. Each patient presents with her unique physiology and associated risk factors. Acute care nurses must be attuned to these factors and be ready to intervene with assessment, education, and collaboration with the health care team in order to reduce the incidence of stroke in women.