Measuring the impact of an acute stroke program on patient outcomes.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, affecting 400,000 persons annually. A uniform medical treatment is yet to be established. Little nursing research has been conducted which measures the impact of specific nursing interventions on patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of a nurse-managed acute stroke program on patient outcomes. Aspects of the stroke program included daily nursing assessment, patient teaching, two support groups, staff education, family discharge planning and telephone follow-up. Variables examined were length of stay, disposition, readmission and compliance factors. Charts of patients admitted during the first six months of 1987 (before implementation of the stroke program) were compared to those of patients admitted during the first six months of 1988 (after implementation of the stroke program). Findings support continued development of the stroke program. There are implications for nursing practice, education and research.