Poststroke Complications and Risk Factors: Implications for Primary Care Nurse Practitioners

Despite the advances in health care, stroke remains the third-leading cause of death among Americans. Cerebral vascular accidents (CVAs) or stroke are the second leading cause of death worldwide. Patient management after stroke by primary care nurse practitioners (PCNPs) is focused on prevention and early recognition and management of poststroke complications. It is vital that PCNPs recognize those persons who have the highest risk of developing stroke or recurrent stroke and identify those persons who may benefit from interventions such as management of comorbid conditions or modification of specific risk factors with the intention of reducing the risk of the first stroke.