Completing accreditation during the COVID-19 pandemic: A step-by-step process for success.

Many higher-education administrative processes have transitioned to the online environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nursing program accreditation site visits were not spared from this shift. This article describes the step-by-step online, interactive, and collaborative process one nursing department used for program re-accreditation. Kotter's 8-step process for accelerating change informed this work. Positive outcomes included increased faculty engagement and knowledge in the accreditation process and an ongoing accreditation readiness team. Recommendations include forming an accreditation committee, appointing program champions, utilizing a learning management system and a cloud-based storage system, and celebrating successes. This process could be replicated by other nursing programs undergoing accreditation.

Women and In-hospital Stroke Code Activation: Age, Ethnicity, and Unique Symptoms Matter.

BACKGROUND: Women have worse stroke outcomes than men, and almost 17% of all stroke cases have symptom onset when admitted to the hospital for a separate condition. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the distinctive factors that impact the activation of an in-hospital stroke code and outcomes in women who have a stroke while admitted to the hospital for a separate condition. METHODS: A retrospective observational propensity score study guided by the model for nursing effectiveness was used. RESULTS: In-hospital stroke code was activated in 46 of 149 or 30.9% of women and 15 of 149 or 10.1% of women received thrombolytic therapy. Activation of an in-hospital stroke code was significant (P < .001) for women receiving thrombolytic therapy and significant to a home discharge status (P = .014). Age (P < .001), ethnicity (P < .001), common (P ≤ .001) and unique (P = .012) stroke symptoms, stroke risk factors (P < .001), comorbid conditions (P < .001), time last known well (P = .041), and diagnostic imaging (P < .001) were all significantly related to activation of an in-hospital stroke code. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of an in-hospital stroke is a key indicator for women to receive thrombolytic therapy and be discharged to home. Younger married women from non-Caucasian ethnic groups and women with stroke risk factors and comorbid conditions are at a greater risk for delayed stroke symptom detection and not having an in-hospital stroke code activated. Awareness of these factors that hinder early stroke detection in women is crucial to improving stroke treatment and outcomes in women.

Unique Stroke Symptoms in Women: A Review.

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that there is a delay in recognizing unique stroke symptoms in women by both healthcare professionals and the general population. The purpose of this review was to identify and summarize the most relevant literature regarding recognition and assessment of unique stroke symptoms in women. METHODS: Literature review using PubMed, CINAHL, ERIC, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar was used to search literature describing unique stroke symptoms. RESULTS: Unique stroke symptoms, female sex, and race are associated with delayed recognition, treatment, misdiagnosis, and outcomes. Women experience unique symptoms of nausea/vomiting, headache, dizziness, and cognitive dysfunction more often than men. Stroke assessment tools and registries recognize 1 to 4 of the 11 unique stroke symptoms in women, no study directly assesses the sensitivity and specificity of these unique symptoms, and all studies included women and men. Conclusions and Nursing Implications: Current assessment tools and registries are not sensitive and specific to measuring unique stroke symptoms in women. Accurately identifying unique stroke symptoms in women may reduce presentation and treatment time, minimizing misdiagnoses and poor patient outcomes.