Stroke nurse practitioner, Jodie feels very fortunate to be providing stroke education, support and clinical expertise to our doctors and nursing teams, as well as our patients and their familes.
Jodie was working at a comprehensive stroke centre as a stroke clinical nurse consultant before she was encouraged to become a stroke nurse practitioner at Peninsula Health.
In her role, she attends medical ward rounds, code strokes in the Emergency Department, and provides education and support to patients and families who are experiencing the impact of a stroke.
“I have the ability to admit and discharge patients, prepare prescriptions, chart medications, order and interpret diagnostic test such as brain imaging,” says Jodie.
“I assist with patient flow, this includes attending rapid rounds and collaborating with our allied health team, complex discharge nurse, and our SAAS team.”
Jodie is passionate about working and engaging with our team of stroke nurses working on 5GS and in the emergency department, where she helps to recognise and respond to gaps in care as well as quality improvement and research.
“People should be aware of focal neurology, facial droop, upper and lower limb weakness, slurred speech, word finding difficulties, inability to understand, visual deficits, unsteady gait, swallowing difficulties, nausea and vomiting dizziness, as these can all be signs of stroke,” explains Jodie.
“Stroke is unpredictable and can happen to anyone at any time and any age. There is no warning and it is life altering.”
When patients first come through as a code stroke, Jodie works closely with Ambulance Victoria, doctors and nurses in our emergency department, as well as radiographers, to determine the best treatment for the patient and lead to a positive recovery.
“Some patients are fortunate enough to get to the hospital in a timely fashion and be a candidate for thrombolysis or clot retrieval which may improve outcomes,” she says.
In times of uncertainty, Jodie works as a friendly face to assist families in understanding stroke and provides clarification on what the next steps are for stroke survivors.
“Stroke is a life altering event for many of our patients which requires a lot of emotional support for the patient and family. Often in stroke we cannot provide time frames for recovery or the amount of recovery they will have, which can be very difficult for the patient and family to come to terms with.”
Jodie asks people to learn the accronym F.A.S.T (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) to help detect and support someone who is having a stroke.
“Focal neurology, facial droop, upper and lower limb weakness, slurred speech, word finding difficulties, inability to understand, visual deficits, unsteady gait, swallowing difficulties, nausea and vomiting dizziness, can all be signs of stroke,” adds Jodie.
If you or someone you know experience the signs of a stroke, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.