Focus on ESO-EAST

ESO-EAST Stroke Unit Nurse Education Project (SUNEP)

According to the ESO-EAST Stroke Unit Nurse Education Project (SUNEP) plan, in Autumn 2016 the final part of the project, an on-site training on a certified Stroke Unit, took place. Over the period from October 3rd through November 9th seven small groups of the ESO-EAST SUNEP participants arrived at Johannes Wesling Klinikum Minden, Germany, to stay for 2.5 days and learn from experienced German colleagues. The ESO-EAST SUNEP – pilot phase, including the on-site training, was arranged by the ESO in collaboration the Ukrainian Anti-Stroke Association and supported by an unrestricted grant courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim. The on-site training was organized and led by Dr. Joerg Glahn, Senior Physician, University Clinic for Neurology and Neurogeriatrics, Johannes Wesling Klinikum Minden.

During their stay in Minden the attendees got acquainted with the structure and crucial processes in the Stroke Unit and visited other hospital facilities, such as Neurological Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department, Radiology, and Neurovascular Interventions Unit. The hospitants had an opportunity to observe high-quality routine stroke care, participate in the rounds and discuss a lot of interesting clinical cases, watch various state-of-the-science ancillary investigations and treatment interventions performed by the Neurology team, including IV tPA administration, mechanical thrombectomy, endovascular aneurysm coiling, digital subtraction angiography, early mobilization, multimodal neuroimaging, fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and dilatation tracheotomy among others. Each of the participants had ample time to ask questions and get explanations of what they had seen in the hospital.

Apart from observation of the stroke care, the SUNEP participants daily took part in the 1- to 3-hour seminars. During the seminars Dr. Joerg Glahn and his colleagues addressed the following topics:

  • Evidence for qualified nursing in stroke patients.
  • Prehospital and in-hospital management of acute stroke.
  • Stroke Unit as the basis for successful acute stroke treatment.
  • Stroke pathophysiology and ‘Time is brain’ concept.
  • Intravenous thrombolysis in acute stroke.
  • Mechanical Thrombectomy as a new standard of care.
  • Dysphagia screening and early nutrition in acute stroke.
  • Fiberendoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).
  • Stroke Unit Certification and Nursing care standards on a Stroke Unit.
  • Nursing Care Manual for Stroke Units.

Overall, the ESO-EAST SUNEP provided a unique opportunity for the Nurses and young Physicians from the Eastern European region to broaden their knowledge and gain new skills in stroke care. We would like to acknowledge the role of Drs. Yuriy Flomin, as the project leader, and Joerg Glahn, and Mr. Thomas Fischer, a representative of the sponsor. We sincerely hope that the 19 ESO-EAST SUNEP participants, who completed the pilot phase of the project, will keep their promise and do their best to share the experience and contribute to bringing the standards of Stroke Nursing Care in their home countries to the best European level.