HEALTHWISE MAUI
Q: I’m a stroke survivor. What can I do to prevent another one?
Casi Saranillio, RN, Stroke Program
Manager, Maui Health: People who have already had a stroke are at increased risk of having another. The good news is that as many as 80 percent of strokes are preventable. By working with your doctor and making lifestyle changes, you can significantly reduce your risk.
One key to secondary stroke prevention is understanding why the first one happened. If an underlying condition — for example, carotid artery disease — contributed to your stroke, treating that will help reduce your risk. So, talk with your doctor about what caused your stroke, and what the best treatment options are for you.
It’s also important to manage any risk factors you have for stroke, including things like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. Your care team will work with you to monitor your levels and help you keep them in a healthy range. Take any medications as they’re prescribed, and follow instructions for monitoring risk factors between visits, such as checking your blood pressure at home.
We know that lifestyle changes, like eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking and increasing physical activity can reduce risk of a secondary stroke. But we also know that it’s hard to change lifelong habits on your own. Get support by working with experts like a nutritionist, counselor or physical therapist, or join a stroke support group or a cardiac rehabilitation program.
Finally, talk with your doctor about getting checked for any undiagnosed conditions that may have contributed to your stroke. These can include atrial fibrillation, a kind of irregular heartbeat, and sleep apnea, a condition that interrupts your breathing during the night and wakes you up. If you have symptoms of these condition, let your doctor know so you can be tested and get treatment if needed.
For more resources for stroke survivors and caregivers, and stroke prevention education, visit mauihealth.org/stroke.
Q: What is the difference between a nurse aide and a nurse?
Jennifer Leval, BSN RN-BC, Director
of Nursing, Kula Hospital: Nurse aides and nurses both help provide patient care in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care settings. However, they perform different tasks and have different roles on health care teams. They also have different education, training and certification/licensing.
Nurse aides who have passed a state exam are called certified nursing assistants, or CNAs. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) are required to pass state board examinations and practice under a license.
Working under the supervision of registered nurses, nurse aides provide bedside care. They help patients with tasks like bathing, eating and grooming. They are able to check vital signs and use hospital equipment to transfer and transport patients (such as wheelchairs to take patients from one part of the hospital to another for treatment).
RNs provide skilled clinical care, and work with doctors to carry out the patient’s care plan. They take medical histories, assess the patient’s condition, administer medications, start and monitor IVs, operate medical equipment and monitors, draw blood and provide wound care. They also help with patient education, such as helping a patient and their family understand their condition and assist with preparing them to discharge for recovery at home.
LPNs and RNs must have a college degree and special training, as well as a license to practice, while nurse aides are required to complete a specialized training program. Many people start working as a nurse aide and advance their careers by completing additional classes and training to become licensed as an LPN or RN.
Maui Health’s Paid Nurse Aide Training Program offers students a chance to earn while they learn. Participants are paid during a specialized training program held twice a week for six weeks. Full-time employment at Kula Hospital as a certified nursing assistant is offered upon successful completion of training and state certification. This is an incredible opportunity for anyone interested in getting started in health care, or who are looking for a career change. The program eliminates the financial burden of paying for college courses and the convenient class schedule accommodates those who have other commitments, like work or family. For more information on upcoming CNA training programs, call (808) 242-2484.
■ Physicians, providers and administrative staff who practice at Maui Health hospitals and clinics answer questions from the public in Healthwise Maui, which appears on Thursdays. Maui Health operates Maui Memorial Medical Center, Maui Memorial Medical Center Outpatient Clinic, Kula Hospital & Clinic and Lana‘i Community Hospital and accepts all patients. To submit a question, go to the website at mauihealth.org/healthwise.