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Date of Graduation
12-14-2024
Semester of Graduation
Fall
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
School of Nursing
First Advisor
Jeannie Corey
Second Advisor
Stacey Epps
Abstract
The American Association of Neurology (AAN) recommended that post-stroke and TIA patients receive follow-up care within 2–4 weeks of discharge to reduce complications, improve medication adherence, and decrease readmission rates (2023). However, in 2022, a Central Virginia neurology practice reported an average wait time of 98.66 days for outpatient follow-up appointments, significantly exceeding the AAN recommendation, while medication adherence was only 72.23%, compared to the national average of 80%. Research by the American Academy of Neurology Workforce Task Force (2013) and Woo et al. (2017) highlighted that incorporating advanced practice nurses into outpatient settings could enhance access to care and improve patient outcomes. In response to these findings, an advanced practice nurse was added to the Central Virginia neurology group in 2023 with the goal of improving access to timely care and medication adherence for discharged stroke and TIA patients. A program evaluation comparing wait times and adherence rates before and after the intervention revealed a significant decrease in average wait time from 98.66 days to 48.39 days, alongside an increase in medication adherence from 72.23% to 80.11%. These results underscored the positive impact of advanced practice nursing on patient care in neurology.
