Question

Discuss characteristics findings for a stroke and how it affects the lives of patients and their families. Dicuss the nurse's role in supporting the patient's psychological and emotional needs . Provide an example. Please include books or articles referenced.

Answer 1

Stroke commonly affects one side of the brain. The right side of the brain controls left side of the body and hence left side of the brain controls right side of the body. When one side of the brain is affected other side of the body won’t receive information regarding movement sensation. So, one side will get paralysed.

CHARACTERISTIC FINDINGS ARE

• Complete loss of sensation
• Weakness or complete loss of movement
• Synergic patterns may be seen
• Flaccidity
• Slurred speech

Stroke limits the independent functional movements of patient in basic activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. And speech is also affected because of the one Side of the facial muscles are also paralysed.

Patients family has responsibility to take care of the patient in every need, they have to adjust with many situations.

Since he/she is not able to do functional and independent mobility, must be having psychological feelings of helplessness and worthlessness. Nurse have to give counselling on the condition and teach some techniques to overcome life situations like, for toileting use of grab rails and sliding bathtubs for bathing etc, assistive and adaptive devices like reaches to be demonstrated. Success stories of stroke recoveries can n=be demonstrated to motivate patient on further treatment.