Question

A woman brings her husband to the emergency department and tells the nurse that her husband just had a stroke. The physician verifies a thrombotic cerebral vascular accident (CVA) occurred and plans to use alteplase (Activase). What priority assessment question will the nurse ask the wife?

1. "What other medications does your husband take?"
2. "Does your husband have hypertension?"
3. "What other medical illnesses does your husband have?"
4. "What time did your husband have the stroke?"

Answer 1

The most important question for the nurse to ask is "What time did your husband have the stroke?" because timing is critical for the effective use of thrombolytic therapy with alteplase, which is best administered within 3 hours of stroke onset.

Step-by-step explanation:

The priority assessment question that the nurse should ask is: "What time did your husband have the stroke?" This is critical to determine because thrombolytic agents like alteplase (Activase) are most effective when administered within a 3-hour window from the onset of stroke symptoms. Identifying the exact time of the stroke onset is crucial for the appropriate and timely administration of this treatment. Thrombolytic therapy is targeted at dissolving the clot that is obstructing blood flow within the brain, and if given within the optimal timeframe, it can significantly improve prognosis by preserving brain function and minimizing permanent damage.