Acute Stroke: Understanding and Using the NIHSS
Hours: 1.25
Every year, approximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021). Strokes kill nearly 137,000 people per year (NIH, 2016). Of the patients who survive, many experience moderate or severe impairments that require special care. The cost of stroke-related care and missed productivity was estimated at almost $46 billion in 2014 (CDC, 2021).
The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a tool used to measure the severity of stroke symptoms and aid in identifying the location of the injury. The NIHSS has been shown to strongly predict the likelihood of a patient’s recovery after stroke.
The goal of this course is to equip clinicians with the knowledge necessary to apply the NIHSS to patients experiencing an acute stroke.
Every year, approximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021). Strokes kill nearly 137,000 people per year (NIH, 2016). Of the patients who survive, many experience moderate or severe impairments that require special care. The cost of stroke-related care and missed productivity was estimated at almost $46 billion in 2014 (CDC, 2021). The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a tool used to measure the severity of stroke symptoms and aid in identifying the location of the injury. The NIHSS has been shown to strongly predict the likelihood of a patient’s recovery after stroke. The goal of this course is to equip clinicians with the knowledge necessary to apply the NIHSS to patients experiencing an acute stroke.
California Board of Registered Nursing
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP# 13791
Nurses will receive 1.25 contact hours for participating in this course.
District of Columbia Board of Nursing
District of Columbia Board of Nursing Approved Continuing Education program (CEBroker Provider #50-290).
Nurses will receive 1.20 contact hours for participating in this course.
Florida Board of Nursing
Florida Board of Nursing (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Nurses will receive 1.00 contact hours for participating in this course.
American Nurses Credentialing Center
In support of improving patient care, Relias LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Nurses will receive 1.25 Nursing Contact Hours after successfully completing this course.
Georgia Board of Nursing
Georgia Board of Nursing (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Nurses will receive 1.25 contact hours for participating in this course.
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
In support of improving patient care, Relias LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Relias LLC designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
South Carolina Board of Nursing
South Carolina Board of Nursing (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Nurses will receive 1.25 contact hours for participating in this course.
Florida Board of Medicine
Florida Board of Medicine (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Physicians will receive 1.25 AMA PRA category 1 Credits™.
West Virginia Board of Registered Nursing
West Virginia Board of Registered Nursing (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Nurses will receive 1.25 contact hours for participating in this course.
New Mexico Board of Nursing
New Mexico Board of Nursing (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Nurses will receive 1.25 contact hours for participating in this course.
Arkansas State Board of Nursing
Arkansas State Board Of Nursing Approved Continuing Education program (CEBroker Provider #50-290).
Nurses will receive 1.25 contact hours for participating in this course.
Ohio State Medical Board
State Medical Board of Ohio (CEBroker Provider #: 50-290)
Physicians will receive 1.25 AMA PRA category 1 Credits™.
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (CEBroker Provider #: 50-290)
Physicians will receive 1.25 AMA PRA category 1 Credits™.
Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure
Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure (CEBroker Provider #: 50-290)
Physicians will receive 1.25 AMA PRA category 1 Credits™.
Kentucky Board of Nursing
Kentucky Board of Nursing (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Nurses will receive 1.25 contact hours for participating in this course.
Mississippi Board of Nursing
Mississippi Board of Nursing (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Nurses will receive 1.25 contact hours for participating in this course.
North Dakota Board of Nursing
North Dakota Board of Nursing (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Nurses will receive 1.25 contact hours for participating in this course.
New Mexico Medical Board
Physicians will receive 1.25 AMA PRA category 1 Credits™.
South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners
South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Tennessee Board Of Medical Examiners
Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Physicians will receive 1.25 AMA PRA category 1 Credits™
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. Disclosure: Cathryn Ayers, RN has no Relevant Financial or Non-Financial Relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.
The target audience for this course is: Nurses; Physicians; in the following settings: Acute Care Facility.
Asynchronous/Online Distance Learning; please see certificate details for specifics on delivery format.
Relias has a grievance policy in place to facilitate reports of dissatisfaction. Relias will make every effort to resolve each grievance in a mutually satisfactory manner. In order to report a complaint or grievance please contact Relias.
If you require special accommodations to complete this module, please contact Relias Support by completing the web form (https://www.relias.com/help) or by using the chat functionality.
All courses offered by Relias, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.
Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer or otherwise does not constitute or imply any endorsement, recommendation, or favoring of, or affiliation with, Relias, LLC.
All characteristics and organizations referenced in the following training are fictional. Any resemblance to any actual organizations or persons living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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.
If you require special accommodations to complete this module, please contact Relias Customer Support here.
