Specialized Stroke Unit Nursing Interventions in the Emergency Department and Their Efficacy on Outcomes and Patient Perceptions of Clinical Care Pathway Coherence

An intervention study comprised of 1) a primary registry database component and 2) a secondary questionnaire based quantitative evaluation . The intervention study includes a 3-month baseline observational period followed by a 7-month baseline data collection period, a 2-month intervention implementation phase, and a 3-month intervention observational period followed by 7-month intervention data collection period. An intervention, where dedicated stroke nurses handle acute care of stroke and TIA patient in the ED prior to admission to a dedicated stroke unit will take place in the timeframe of 11-19:00 hrs, 7 days a week. Notably, the intervention is set to be integrated into clinical practice on a permanent basis after end of study. Data for all stroke patients admitted to the ED at HGH are collected during the 3-month baseline and intervention observational periods. Fulfilment of Danish Stroke Quality Program (DAP) quality indicators is monitored as follows - use of dysphagia screen (GUSS), mobilization within day of ED admission and transfer to SU. Additional nursing interventions monitored in the ED are: Use of nasogastric catheter, use of bladder scan and intermittent catheterization, frequency of temperature monitoring and use of anti-pyretics, acute phase monitoring of blood-pressure every 2 hours, use of Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) score. Outcomes are monitored in hospital and at visits to the out patient clinic, as well as by registry.