What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient showing signs of stroke?

In cases where a patient is exhibiting signs of a stroke, the utmost priority is to call for immediate medical assistance and perform a quick assessment. This response is critical because strokes are time-sensitive emergencies, and the sooner the patient receives medical treatment, the better the potential outcomes.

By initiating a quick assessment, the nurse can gather vital information regarding the patient's symptoms, onset of symptoms, and medical history, which are crucial for the emergency medical team upon arrival. Recognizing the signs of a stroke, such as facial drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulties (often summarized by the acronym FAST), allows for a timely response that can lead to possible interventions like thrombolytic therapy, which must be administered within a specific time frame for effectiveness.

In this context, starting an IV line, administering aspirin, or checking blood sugar levels are important actions in various scenarios, but they do not take precedence over calling for immediate help and quickly assessing the patient, as fast intervention is essential for reducing long-term disability or mortality in stroke patients. Thus, prioritizing the call for assistance and assessment forms the foundation for best-practice management in suspected stroke cases.