What is the expected frequency of NIHSS assessments after the first assessment in a stroke patient?

The expected frequency of NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) assessments after the initial assessment in a stroke patient is every 12 hours and as needed (PRN). This is critical in monitoring the patient's neurological status and detecting any changes in their condition that could indicate a deterioration or improvement following a stroke.

Regular assessments allow healthcare providers to track the progression or resolution of neurological symptoms, assess the effectiveness of interventions, and make informed decisions regarding patient management. Performing these assessments every 12 hours ensures that there is a consistent and up-to-date understanding of the patient's condition without subjecting them to excessive evaluations that could be burdensome and may not provide significant additional information.

In contrast, conducting assessments every 6 hours may be too frequent unless there are acute changes in the patient's condition, while assessing only once per shift or daily does not provide an adequate frequency for monitoring the dynamic nature of stroke recovery. Additionally, daily assessments at the same time could miss critical deterioration or improvement that could occur outside the set assessment time, making the PRN approach more appropriate to address any urgent changes in the patient's status.