Certificate Program
A Comprehensive Review of Stroke for Nurses
Enhance your understanding of the full range of nursing care for stroke survivors and their families!
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About this Certificate Program
Nurses in all care settings must address a variety of needs to ensure optimal outcomes for the stroke survivor and their family across the care continuum. This program is tailored to provide nurses with the knowledge to clinically care for stroke survivors utilizing the rehabilitation philosophy, in addition to addressing the needs of young stroke survivors, and individuals who experience a mild stroke. The Comprehensive Review of Stroke Certificate prepares nurses to address the full scope of stroke nursing care, including care transitions, community resources and reintegration, and palliative care. Nurses who successfully complete this seven-course program will enhance their clinical decision-making and improve the quality of care to optimize clinical outcomes for stroke survivors and their families.
Target audience
Nurses (RNs, LPNs, UAPs) practicing in an acute, rehabilitation, or outpatient environment who see patients with stroke.
Goals & objectives
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Describe nursing and rehabilitation care for stroke survivors across the continuum of care.
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Explain the nurse’s role in facilitating care transitions and resources for community resources and reintegration.
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Explain care considerations for specific populations, i.e. young stroke survivors and mild stroke survivors.
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Describe the process of palliative care and advance directives for survivors of stroke.
What’s included in the Certificate Program
Accredited Online Courses*
11 hours of online video lectures and patient demonstrations.
Case Study Interviews
Recorded Q&A sessions between instructors and practice managers.
Interactive Learning Assessments
Case-based quizzes to evaluate and improve clinical reasoning.
Certificate Program overview
Section 1
Nursing Care Across the Continuum of Care 4 ItemsRehabilitation Nursing for CVA and Stroke Course
Chapter 1: Introduction to Stroke
Stroke is the leading cause of significant disability in adults and has a notable impact on society. The rehabilitation nurse has an important role in prevention of stroke. This chapter covers the prevalence of stroke, stroke risk factors, and stroke prevention.
Chapter 2: Pathophysiology of Stroke and Emergent Care
Understanding the anatomy of the brain and how the location of stroke determines the patient’s clinical presentation can help rehabilitation nurses provide more effective care. This chapter briefly reviews the anatomy of the brain, areas of control related to different causes of stroke, and resulting clinical presentation.
Chapter 3: Stroke Treatment Across the Continuum
Treatment of stroke occurs across the continuum of care, from emergency care through return to the community. Stroke management includes diagnostic, pharmacologic, surgical, and rehabilitation interventions. This chapter provides a brief review of emergency and acute care management of stroke, followed by the nursing assessment and intervention to optimize stroke recovery.
Chapter 4: Stroke and the Family System
Stroke is not only a crisis for the patient, but it also has a significant impact on his/her family system. Patients who survive a stroke often require assistance from a family caregiver. In this chapter, the assessment and identification of needs of the caregivers and interventions to promote caregiver health will be described.
Stroke Care From Onset Through Post-Acute Care Course
Chapter 1: Introduction to Stroke
Stroke is the leading cause of significant disability in adults, which can have a detrimental impact on families and the society. The nurse has a role in prevention of stroke through the identification and reduction of stroke risk. This chapter covers the prevalence of stroke, stroke risk factors, and stroke prevention.
Chapter 2: The Pathology of Stroke
Nurses need to understand the anatomy of the brain and how the location of stroke determines the patient’s clinical presentation. This chapter briefly reviews the anatomy of the brain and areas of control, and the different causes of stroke. The clinical presentation of stroke is described.
Chapter 3: Acute Stroke Treatment
Treatment of stroke begins with emergent and acute care. Stroke management includes diagnostic, pharmacologic, surgical, and other nursing interventions. This chapter provides a brief review of emergent and acute care management of stroke.
Chapter 4: Stroke Treatment Across the Post-Acute Continuum
Treatment of stroke begins with emergent and acute care. Stroke management includes diagnostic, pharmacologic, surgical, and other nursing interventions. This chapter provides a brief review of emergent and acute care management of stroke.
Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Text And Links
Comprehensive Overview of Nursing and Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Care of the Stroke Patient Text And Links
Section 2
From Hospital to the Community 3 ItemsNursing’s Role in Care Transitions from Acute Care to Post-Acute Care Course
Chapter 1: Nursing Assessment and Planning
Nurses need to recognize the risks associated with care transitions in order to contribute to the transition plan for stroke survivors. The importance of nursing assessment and the nurse’s contribution to the transition plan is described.
Chapter 2: Care Transitions Models and Resources
Nurses need to understand the resources available for transitioning patients and their caregivers, as well as the Care Transition Models used to guide practice. This chapter reviews evidence-based care transitions models and provider and patient resources to optimize care transitions. Priorities for care transitions for differing stroke severity are described.
Chapter 3: The Post-Acute Continuum of Care
Many stroke survivors utilize services in the post-acute care continuum. Factors such as criteria for admission and the scope and intensity of service are reviewed. Outcomes of stroke survivors served in the different levels of post-acute care are described.
Post-Stroke Resources and Community Reintegration Course
Chapter 1: Post-Discharge Needs of Stroke Survivors and Family Caregivers
Family-centered care requires that the health care team identify and address the needs and concerns of patients and their families. In this chapter, the most common post-discharge needs of stroke survivors and their caregivers are discussed to help nurses, therapists, and other health care providers recognize these needs in order to better tailor care plans for post-discharge support and follow-up.
Chapter 2: Assessing and Addressing Post-Discharge Need
A systematic and comprehensive assessment can help identify post-discharge needs and establish priorities for referrals and follow-up care. In this chapter, the elements of a comprehensive assessment are discussed and strategies for working with stroke survivors and family members to prioritize follow-up care are recommended.
Chapter 3: Community Reintegration and Resources Addressing the Long-Term Needs of Stroke Survivors and Their Families
Stroke survivors and their family members are often unaware of available community and web-based resources that can provide support and facilitate community reintegration post-stroke. In this chapter, community- and web-based resources addressing the post-discharge needs of stroke survivors and their family members will be described. Novel programs and resources that nurses, therapists, and other health care providers might consider implementing in post-discharge stroke care will be discussed.
Guidelines for Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery Text And Links
Section 3
Stroke in Specific Populations 3 ItemsThe Role of the Nurse in Care of Persons With Mild Stroke Course
Chapter 1: Mild Stroke Etiology and Symptoms
Rehabilitation nurses need to understand the risk factors and etiology of mild stroke and recognize the signs and symptoms of mild stroke. This chapter covers the risk factors, etiology, and signs and symptoms of mild stroke.
Chapter 2: Common Deficits of Mild Stroke and Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation nurses need to recognize the common effects of mild stroke on cognition, language, mood, ADLs, and mobility to develop an appropriate plan of care. This chapter briefly reviews common deficits seen in mild stroke patients and how rehabilitation interventions improve functioning. The sequelae of gaps in necessary rehabilitation care will be explored.
Chapter 3: Psychosocial, Vocational, and Family Issues Related to Mild Stroke
Mild stroke may have significant psychosocial effects on the stroke survivor and impact the entire family system. Issues such as the impact on the family, psychosocial effects, and the impact of vocational participation are reviewed in relation to rehabilitation outcomes among survivors of mild stroke.
Stroke in Young & Middle-Aged Adults: Ages 18 to 64 Course
Chapter 1: Prevalence and Causes of Stroke in Young and Middle-Aged Adults
Stroke is often viewed as a condition that occurs in older populations, i.e., those 65 and older. However, stroke is increasingly occurring in young adults (under the age of 65). In this chapter, the prevalence and causes of “young stroke” are described. Implications of the increases in this demographic are discussed.
Chapter 2: Needs and Concerns of Younger Adult Stroke Survivors and Their Family Members
Young stroke survivors’ needs and concerns are often different from those of older stroke survivors. In this chapter, the needs and concerns of young stroke survivors and their family members are described. Research exploring these varying needs is discussed, and special areas of concern are highlighted.
Chapter 3: Strategies for Addressing Needs of Younger Adult Stroke Survivors
This chapter includes strategies for addressing the unique needs of younger stroke survivors. Recommendations for addressing concerns about returning to work and driving are highlighted. Examples of novel programs developed to address the needs of this population are provided.
The Rehabilitation of Younger Stroke Patients Text And Links
Section 4
Additional Interventions 3 ItemsPalliative Care and Advance Directives After Stroke Course
Chapter 1: Introduction to Palliative Care and Advance Directives
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., and the risk of death in the first five years post-stroke is approximately 50%, with the highest risk in the first year. In order to provide family-centered care, knowledge about palliative care approaches are critical for nurses who provide care to stroke patients and their family members. This chapter includes definitions and key principles of palliative care and provides the rationale for why implementing palliative care approaches are critical for many stroke patients and their families.
Chapter 2: Palliative Care and Stroke: Current Research
In order to provide evidence-based palliative care, nurses need to understand the current state of the science of palliative care research, and its application when caring for stroke patients. This chapter provides an overview of the current research in palliative care and stroke, identifies gaps in research, and includes suggestions for future studies.
Chapter 3: Recommendations for Nurses Caring for Stroke Patients
The final chapter provides recommendations for nurses who provide care for stroke patients and their families across the care continuum. Tools for assessing palliative care needs will be discussed. Palliative care resources, including clinical guidelines that nurses can use when working with stroke patients, will be shared.
Palliative Care and Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke Text And Links
Palliative and End-of-Life Care in Stroke Text And Links
Instructors
Michelle Camicia
PhD, RN, CRRN, CCM, NEA-BC, FARN, FAHA, FAAN
Barbara Lutz
PhD, RN, CRRN, APHN-BC, FAHA, FNAP, FAAN
CEU approved
11
total hours*
of accredited coursework.
Medbridge accredits each course individually so you can earn CEUs as you progress.
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Browse PlansFrequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Certificate Programs.
Accreditation Hours
Each course is individually accredited and exact hours will vary by state and discipline. Check each course for specific accreditation for your license.
When do I get my certificate?
You will receive accredited certificates of completion for each course as you complete them. Once you have completed the entire Certificate Program you will receive your certificate for the program.
Do I get CEU credit?
Each course is individually accredited. Please check each course for your state and discipline. You can receive CEU credit after each course is completed.
Do I have to complete the courses in order?
It is not required that you complete the courses in order. Each Certificate Program's content is built to be completed sequentially but it is not forced to be completed this way.
How long do I have access to the Certificate Program?
You will have access to this Certificate Program for as long as you are a subscriber. Your initial subscription will last for one year from the date you purchase.
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