aspirin to a patient who had a possible stroke. what should the nurse report to the doctor

by Taurean Pollich 7 min read

Aspirin and Stroke | American Stroke Association

17 hours ago  · Understanding Aspirin and Stroke. Aspirin is a blood thinning medication that should not be self-administered for stroke. If the stroke is diagnosed as ischemic, doctors can administer aspirin within 24-48 hours to dissolve the blood clot and treat the stroke. When a stroke is diagnosed as hemorrhagic, aspirin should be avoided as it can worsen bleeding in the … >> Go To The Portal


The simple answer is no! Aspirin should not be given by a first aider to a patient suspected of having a stroke. Doing so could worsen the situation and cause serious harm to the patient.

Full Answer

Can a nurse administer aspirin to a patient with a stroke?

Atrial fibrillation, dysphasia, and transient ischemic attack (TIA) are not contraindications to aspirin use, so the nurse can administer the aspirin. A patient with a stroke experiences right-sided arm and leg paralysis and facial drooping on the right side. When admitting the patient, which clinical manifestation will the nurse expect to find? a.

How does aspirin prevent blood clots and strokes?

Aspirin prevents blood clots by preventing platelets from sticking together. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory medication. Inflammation is the body's response to injury or infection that results in swelling and activation of immune system cells. Inflammation is a factor in blood vessel disease that contributes to a stroke. 2

How much aspirin should you take a day for stroke prevention?

Examples of daily aspirin doses for stroke prevention include 81 milligrams (mg) after an acute ischemic stroke, 81 mg per day for stroke prevention for people who have atrial fibrillation, and possibly 325 mg per day for stroke prevention for people who have carotid artery disease. 6 Can Low-Dose Aspirin Be Taken With Ibuprofen?

How much aspirin should a patient with a transient ischemic attack take?

A patient who has a history of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) has an order for aspirin 160 mg daily. When the nurse is administering medications, the patient says, "I don't need the aspirin today. I don't have a fever." Which action should the nurse take? a.

What happens if you give aspirin to someone having a stroke?

Taking aspirin isn't advised during a stroke, because not all strokes are caused by blood clots. Some strokes are caused by ruptured blood vessels and taking aspirin could make these bleeding strokes more severe.

What should a nurse do if a patient is having a stroke?

Assess the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation. Decreased level of consciousness and decreased muscle tone can compromise his airway, so be prepared to support the airway. Monitor the patient's Spo 2 and administer supplemental oxygen if needed. Ask the patient or his family when symptoms started.

What is the first priority of nursing care for the stroke patient?

Your initial evaluation of a patient with a suspected stroke should include airway, breathing, and circulation, followed by neurologic assessment using either the NIHSS or the mNIHSS, per facility policy.

What is nursing assessment for stroke?

23. Nurses are expected to perform comprehensive and systematic physical assessments for all patients with stroke, including monitoring the main 5 vital signs: body temperature, blood pressure (BP), breathing effort (rate, patterns, and chest expansion), oxygen saturation, and mental status/level of consciousness.

What are priorities for stroke patients?

Priority Nursing Interventions Caring for the Stroke PatientIntroduction.After alteplase and endovascular thrombectomy.Bleeding assessment.Blood pressure (BP) management.Cardiac monitoring.Temperature.Airway and respiratory assessment.Assessment of aspiration.More items...•

What should you assess in a stroke patient?

Stroke Risk Assessment ScorecardRISK FACTORS Blood PressureHIGH RISK 140/90 & Higher or Don't KnowLOW RISK Less then 120/80Atrial FibrillationIrregular heartbeatHeartbeat not irregularWeightOverweightHealthy weightExerciseSedentaryExercise regularlyFamily history of strokeYesNo4 more rows

How long after stroke can you take aspirin?

Aspirin has a larger time frame and can be administered within 24-48 hours after stroke onset.

What to do after a stroke?

After a stroke has been treated, doctors should follow up with suggested protocol to help prevent a second stroke. With patients that suffered ischemic stroke, doctors may prescribe a daily, low-dose aspirin to help prevent another blood clot in the brain. The dose will vary based on your unique health risk factors.

What is the difference between a hemorrhagic stroke and an ischemic stroke?

Ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot in the brain and accounts for 87% of all strokes. Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a ruptured artery in the brain and often requires surgery. Knowing the type of stroke is critical for effective treatment, because each type is treated differently. To treat an ischemic stroke, ...

How long does it take for aspirin to dissolve a blood clot?

If the stroke is diagnosed as ischemic, doctors can administer aspirin within 24-48 hours to dissolve the blood clot and treat the stroke. When a stroke is diagnosed as hemorrhagic, aspirin should be avoided as it can worsen bleeding in the brain. Taking aspirin for both emergency stroke treatment and stroke prevention carry their own risks.

What to do if someone has a stroke in 2020?

If someone is showing signs of a possible stroke, immediately call for emergency help and do not give the person any medication like aspirin. Doing this can save a life. The only person who should provide aspirin for emergency stroke treatment is a doctor who has performed a brain scan and can confirm ...

Does aspirin cause a stroke?

Some studies report that long-term aspirin use increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Taking a daily low-dose aspirin can also cause other complications such as risk of stomach bleeding. Drinking alcohol worsens these complications.

Can you give aspirin after a stroke?

When Doctors Can Safely Administer Aspirin for Stroke. There is a specific time window that drugs can be safely administered after a stroke. This is another reason why it’s critical to seek emergency treatment. Here are the best known times to administer tPA or aspirin after a stroke:

It is recommended for certain conditions

Heidi Moawad is a neurologist and expert in the field of brain health and neurological disorders. Dr. Moawad regularly writes and edits health and career content for medical books and publications.

How Does Aspirin Prevent a Stroke?

Platelets are cells that are active in producing blood clots. Aspirin prevents blood clots by preventing platelets from sticking together. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory medication.

Benefits

While blood clots are important to prevent excess bleeding from wounds, they can be dangerous if they form in the brain, the heart, the lungs, and other regions of the body. Aspirin can help prevent platelets from forming clots.

Risks

Aspirin is safe for most people, but it has some side effects and risks.

Who Should Not Take Aspirin?

Sometimes aspirin is contraindicated due to underlying medical conditions. If you have ever had an allergic or serious reaction to aspirin, you should not take aspirin for stroke prevention or any other reason. 5 This includes not taking any medication that contains aspirin (such as over-the-counter Excedrin).

Dosage

If you are advised to use daily aspirin for stroke prevention, your healthcare provider will recommend a specific daily dose for you that is based on your age, weight, stroke risk, bleeding risk, other medications you take and, and other underlining medical conditions that you have.

When to Take Aspirin After a Stroke

Aspirin is not safe for use during an acute stroke. It is used for preventing a recurrent ischemic stroke. It is not considered useful for preventing a hemorrhagic stroke (a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain).

Why is aspirin used in the first aid?

Aspirin is recommended for the first aid treatment of a heart attack because it works quickly to break down the clot in the heart. When someone has a stroke you don’t know which type of stroke they are having! There is no way of knowing if the stroke is ischemic (clot) or hemorrhagic (bleeding). Therefore we don’t know if aspirin will help ...

How to find out if someone has a stroke?

The only way to find out the type of stroke is a brain scan performed in hospital. Therefore the best first aid treatment for someone with a suspected stroke is to call for emergency medical help as soon as possible. Remember, “time is brain” when it comes to a stroke.

What are the two types of strokes?

Broadly, there are two main types of stroke: 1. Ischemic stroke: this is similar to a heart attack and occurs when a clot blocks an artery in the brain causing ischemia and infarction of brain tissue (death of cells due to lack of oxygen) 2. Hemorrhagic stroke: this is rarer, but occurs due to a burst blood vessel in the brain resulting in bleeding.

Is aspirin a first aid drug?

Aspirin is a drug often mentioned in the first aid treatment for a heart attack. Giving Aspirin can save someone’s life if they are having a heart attack, but what about a stroke?

Why is aspirin ordered?

Rationale: Aspirin is ordered to prevent stroke in patients who have experienced TIAs. Documentation of the patient's refusal to take the medication is an inadequate response by the nurse. There is no need to clarify the order with the health care provider. The aspirin is not ordered to prevent aches and pains.

Which side should the patient be approached during the acute period?

Because there is a visual defect in the right half of each eye, an eye patch is not appropriate. The patient should be approached from the left side.

Can heparin be used for TIA?

Continuous heparin infusion is not routinely used after TIA or with acute ischemic stroke. The patient's symptoms are not consistent with a cerebral aneurysm. tPA is used only for acute ischemic stroke, not for TIA. A patient is being admitted with a possible stroke.

Is heparin administered in the emergency phase?

Heparin administration in the emergency phase is not indicated. Emergent carotid transluminal angioplasty or endarterectomy is not indicated for the patient who is having an acute ischemic stroke. A female patient who had a stroke 24 hours ago has expressive aphasia.

Is crying a sign of depression after a stroke?

Depression after a stroke is common, but the suddenness of the patient's outburst suggests that depression is not the major cause of the behavior. The family should stay with the patient. The crying is not within the patient's control. Asking the patient to stop will lead to embarrassment.

Is aspirin contraindicated for ischemic attack?

Rationale: A sudden onset headache is typical of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, and aspirin is contraindicated. Atrial fibrillation, dysphasia, and transient ischemic attack are not contraindications to aspirin use.

How Does Aspirin Prevent A Stroke?

Benefits

Risks

Who Should Not Take Aspirin?

Dosage

When to Take Aspirin After A Stroke

  • Aspirin is not safe for use during an acute stroke. It is used for preventing a recurrent ischemic stroke. It is not considered useful for preventing a hemorrhagic stroke(a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain). Aspirin is sometimes used shortly after a stroke is diagnosed if the stroke is ischemic and there is not a substantial risk of bleeding....
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