Utilization of Advanced Practice Providers in Advanced Practice Provider-Led Stroke Clinic to Expand Outpatient Stroke Follow-up Care.

Stroke follow-up care with neurology specialty advanced practice providers is critical to focus on stroke prevention. The need for which is underscored by results of a recent study noting that many stroke survivors of first-ever strokes were not receiving stroke standard-of-care prevention measures including consistent antiplatelet therapies and regular exercise. Study findings further note the rates of usage for stroke prevention interventions (daily anti-platelet therapy, smoking cessation, regular exercise, hypertension control) were between 50% and 70%. Clinical nurse specialists along with nurse practitioner and physician assistant advanced practice providers are uniquely suited to manage outpatient ischemic stroke care to reduce the recurrence of stroke and improve patient outcomes.

Caring for the pregnant woman with neurofibromatosis.

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is one of the most common inherited single-gene disorders in humans, and is expressed as two distinct types: Type I (von Recklinghausen disease) and Type II, which occurs much less frequently. When it was first reported in the obstetric literature in 1906 by Brickner, neurofibromatosis was called "fibroma moluscum contagiosum." This article presents a case of a 20-year-old woman with NF Type I who became pregnant. The clinical challenges of NF and pregnancy are explored through the collaborative relationships between the patient and two clinical nurse specialists from obstetric and neuroscience nursing. The case study provides valuable information for nurses who want to provide evidence-based care.