TUKHS ED Nurse Residency Group
Team Award
The University of Kansas Health System ED Nurse Residency Group
Recognizes a group or committee that has made a significant contribution toward achieving ENA’s mission through the development of a sustainable project or program.
The University of Kansas Health System ED Nurse Residency Program’s fall 2022 new graduate group developed a project centered on the need to better identify individuals at risk for posterior strokes. The team created the “.dizzyscreen,” a set of questions to be asked of all patients who presented with a complaint of dizziness during triage. When patients are identified as high risk for stroke, they are immediately taken to CT, where the emergency nurse obtains IV access and labs while the stroke nurses and physicians can continue assessment to determine whether clot retrieval or other measures are needed.
The team members created staff education using flyers, badge buddies, unit champions and digital distribution. They presented on their project at the Kansas State ENA meeting and at the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program. The group was also asked for more information about how to bring the project to other EDs and urgent care facilities within the health system.
Since the screening was implemented, more posterior strokes are being caught earlier. The 2023 spring new graduate group continued the project, working to make the .dizzyscreen more user-friendly.