ABSTRACT
A menu-driven, problem-focused neurological assessment system was constructed and implemented after concerns at a six-hospital teaching center about the quality of nursing assessments for patients with neurological diagnoses were validated. This system enables the physician to guide the nurse's assessment by ordering specific neurological tests for each patient. Extensive staff training took place to develop competence with this system. This new system has resulted in positive changes for this facility. Nurses acknowledge greater comfort with performing neurological assessment; documentation of assessment has improved; and the assessments are becoming more individualized for each patient. This system resulted in a higher quality of neurological care for patients.
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/nursing , Neurologic Examination/methods , Nursing Assessment/methods , Specialties, Nursing/methods , Brain Neoplasms/diagnosis , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Neurologic Examination/standards , Nursing Assessment/standards , Problem Solving , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
Graduated compression stockings (GCS) have long been used to prevent deep venous thrombosis in hospitalized patients. The validation of published research findings regarding the use of GCS, and the implementation of practice changes pertinent to medical-surgical nursing are examined.
