
Post-stroke fatigue is a common issue, affecting 25-75% of survivors. It can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life, and nurses play a key role in helping patients manage it.
Fatigue is characterised by feelings of exhaustion and a lack of physical or mental energy that interfere with everyday activities. It can occur after any type of stroke, big or small, and can develop at any time, though it is most common within the first six months.
Nurses can help patients manage post-stroke fatigue by:
- Administering and monitoring therapeutic interventions, such as medication to prevent further infarction and control pain.
- Assisting with daily living activities, such as providing nutrition, hydration, and help with elimination and hygiene.
- Teaching and coaching patients and their families, for example, by educating them about their health condition and promoting independence in performing daily activities.
- Providing emotional and psychosocial support to patients and their families.
- Coordinating care and advocating for patients and their families.
Nurses should also be aware of factors that can impact their ability to help patients manage post-stroke fatigue, such as time constraints, staff shortages, and a lack of stroke-specific knowledge.
What You'll Learn
- Nurses can help with basic care, such as nutrition, hydration, and hygiene
- Nurses can assist with mobility and transfers, and help patients practice prescribed rehabilitation interventions
- Nurses can teach patients and caregivers about post-stroke care and recovery
- Nurses can provide emotional and psychosocial support to patients and their caregivers
- Nurses can coordinate care and collaborate with the interprofessional team
Nurses can help with basic care, such as nutrition, hydration, and hygiene
Nurses play a vital role in assisting patients with mobility and transfers, helping them to move around and providing opportunities for rest and stimulation. They also help patients practice and repeat rehabilitation interventions throughout the day to improve their independence in performing daily activities.
Nurses also administer and monitor therapeutic interventions to meet patients' physical needs, prevent harm, and maintain safety. This includes administering medications, performing wound care, and monitoring vital signs. They also perform risk assessments and continence care, addressing individual needs related to bowel and bladder impairments.
By providing this basic care, nurses support patients' recovery, help prevent complications, and promote patients' physical and functional independence.
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Nurses can assist with mobility and transfers, and help patients practice prescribed rehabilitation interventions
Nurses can assist with mobility and transfers by helping patients with basic care needs, such as nutrition, hydration, elimination, and personal hygiene. They can also help patients with mobility and transfers by assisting with walking, transferring from a bed to a chair, and getting in and out of a car. Nurses can provide opportunities for rest and stimulation, particularly after exercise or activity. They can also assist with skin care to prevent skin complications such as pressure ulcers.
Nurses can help patients practice prescribed rehabilitation interventions by teaching and coaching them on how to perform daily living activities independently. They can also provide emotional and psychosocial support to patients and their families or caregivers. Nurses can teach patients and their families or caregivers about the patient's health condition, how to prevent harm, and how to modify their basic daily activities. They can also provide social and emotional support, and help patients cope with their condition. Nurses can also advocate for patients and their families or caregivers, and facilitate communication and cooperation between them and the interprofessional team.
Nurses can also administer and monitor therapeutic interventions to meet patients' physical needs, maintain safety, and prevent harm. They can administer medications, perform wound dressings, and monitor vital signs. Nurses can also perform risk assessments and continence care, and manage pain.
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Nurses can teach patients and caregivers about post-stroke care and recovery
Nurses play a crucial role in addressing the mental well-being of individuals after a stroke, and improved screening and assessment of psychosocial needs are essential for optimal patient care. They can help manage emotional and social health challenges, such as depression, anxiety, stress, and fatigue, which are commonly experienced during stroke recovery. Nurses can educate stroke survivors and their families on symptom recognition, prevention, and treatment options, such as medication management and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Nurses can teach patients and their caregivers about the importance of regular exercise and improving general physical fitness, which can help prevent, reduce, or treat post-stroke fatigue. They can also provide information on community-based organizations and support groups that can aid in the recovery process.
Additionally, nurses can provide education on the signs and symptoms of stroke to ensure timely evaluation and treatment in the event of a recurrent stroke. They can also explain the potential complications of therapy, especially bleeding, if patients are discharged on blood thinners.
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Nurses can provide emotional and psychosocial support to patients and their caregivers
Nurses can play a crucial role in helping patients and their caregivers manage the emotional and social challenges that often arise after a stroke. They can create a safe and therapeutic environment, offering hope and comprehensive education on the topic. Nurses can also provide emotional and social support to patients, helping them cope with the psychological impact of the stroke. This includes conditions such as post-stroke depression, which can affect about 30% of stroke survivors and is particularly common within the first three months after a stroke.
Nurses can also assist with emotional and psychosocial support for family/caregivers of patients after stroke. They can co-develop strategies to help family members and caregivers cope with the situation and the patient's needs. This includes creating time to be present, talking about their feelings, and helping them process their emotions. Nurses can also advocate for patients and their families and facilitate communication and cooperation between patients, families, and the interprofessional team.
Furthermore, nurses can teach and inform patients and their caregivers about the patient's health condition, as well as train them on how to manage their condition and prevent further complications. They can also provide social and emotional support to patients and their families, helping them cope with the challenges and adjustments following a stroke.
By offering emotional and psychosocial support, nurses can play a vital role in helping patients and their caregivers navigate the challenges and emotional impact of a stroke. They can provide comfort, education, and guidance to improve the patient's overall well-being and quality of life.
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Nurses can coordinate care and collaborate with the interprofessional team
Nurses can also help to educate stroke survivors and their families on symptom recognition, prevention, and treatment options, such as medication management and/or cognitive behavioural therapy. They can also provide emotional and psychosocial support, and involve patients in care planning, advocating for the patients and their families, and integrating the perspectives of patients and families in goal setting.
Nurses can further collaborate with other members of the interprofessional team to implement rehabilitation interventions, provide information on patient progress, and facilitate communication and cooperation between patients, families, and the interprofessional team.
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Frequently asked questions
Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a common condition affecting 25-75% of stroke survivors. It is often characterised by a subjective feeling of exhaustion and a lack of physical or mental energy that interferes with everyday activity. It can happen after any type of stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA, or mini-stroke) and can have a big impact on a person's life, affecting their ability to work, socialise, and enjoy everyday activities.
The symptoms of PSF vary between individuals, but commonly include a lack of energy or strength, and constant tiredness, both physical and mental. It can be mild or severe and may not be alleviated by rest.
PSF can be caused by a number of factors, including the physical and emotional impact of the stroke, sleep changes, medication side effects, and other health conditions such as anaemia, diabetes, or an underactive thyroid.
Nurses can play a key role in helping patients manage PSF. They can educate stroke survivors and their families on symptom recognition, prevention, and treatment options. They can also provide support and information on healthy eating, being more active, and increasing fitness and strength through programmes such as physiotherapy or cardiac rehabilitation.