Application: Patient Education on Stroke Prevention

A stroke is a serious disorder that impacts patients quickly, requiring immediate intervention and treatment. Due to the implications of this disorder, patient education is essential for patient populations at an increased risk of stroke. According to the National Stroke Association, up to 80% of strokes can be prevented in patients (National Stroke Association, 2012). For this reason, it is essential that you provide patients with the education and tools necessary to reduce their risk as well as identify the signs and symptoms of strokes. In this Assignment, you have the opportunity to give back to your practicum site by creating media to educate patients about stroke prevention. When designing patient education media such as flyers, posters, and music, it is important to consider strategies that meet the needs of the patient population you treat at your practicum site.

To prepare:
• Review the stroke prevention articles in this week’s Learning Resources.
• Reflect on common lifestyle, behavioral, and cultural choices of the population that you treat within your practicum setting. Consider stroke prevention methods for this population.
• Think about ways to educate patients on these prevention methods. Consider educational pieces such as flyers, posters, or other media that might be most effective with your patient population.

To complete:
Design a media piece to educate patients on stroke prevention. You may create a flyer, poster, or any other media that is suitable for your patient population.

Readings
• Buttaro, T. M., Trybulski, J., Polgar Bailey, P., & Sandberg-Cook, J. (2013). Primary care: A collaborative practice (4th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.
Part 2, “Primary Care: Adolescence Through Adulthood”
Chapter 14, “Sleep Disorders” (pp. 89–96)

This chapter differentiates between normal sleep from abnormal sleep and identifies the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and management of sleep disorders.
Part 16, “Evaluation and Management of Neurologic Disorders” (pp. 984–1054) 

This part explores the evaluation process of neurologic disorders. It then covers the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, and complications of neurologic disorders.
Part 22, “Evaluation and Management of Mental Health Disorders” (pp. 1323–1365)

This part outlines the diagnostic criteria for diagnosing eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia. It also examines drug selection and management strategies for mood and substance use disorders.
• Lawrence, M., Fraser, H., Woods, C., & McCall, J. (2011). Secondary prevention of stroke and transient ischemic attack. Nursing Standard, 26(9), 41–46.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This article examines risk factors for stroke and explores prevention methods for patients at high risk of suffering from strokes.
• Lawrence, M., Kerr, S., Watson, H. E., Jackson, J., & Brownlee, M. G. (2009). A summary of the guidance relating to four lifestyle risk factors for recurrent stroke. British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 5(10), 471–476.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This article explores lifestyle and behavioral risk factors for stroke. It also describes the role of nurses in educating patients about stroke prevention.
• Perry, M. (2012). Stroke prevention. Practice Nurse, 42(8), 14–18.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This article identifies patient risk factors for strokes. It also explores patient prevention and education methods to lower the prevalence of the disorder.
• National Institute of Health. (n.d.). National institute of neurological disorders and stroke. Retrieved November 1, 2012, from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/index.htm

This website provides information about neurological disorders and strokes, as well as potential causes, prevention strategies, diagnosis, and treatment of these disorders.
Optional Resources
• Drugs.com. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2012, from www.drugs.com
• Institute for Safe Medication Practices. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2012, from http://www.ismp.org/
• WebMD. (2012). Medscape. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com/