Assignment task: Presume you are the quality manager in a hospital that conducted an improvement project to eliminate pulmonary complications in patients who develop dysphagia (difficulty swallow) following a stroke. The medical staff found that 45 percent of patients hospitalized following a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) had some degree of dysphagia and 10 percent of these patients developed pulmonary complications due to aspiration. A team of physicians, nurses, and physical therapists was convened to study the problem and implement changes for the purpose of eliminating all pulmonary complications for patients with dysphagia following a stroke. After studying how patients were being managed, the team agreed that improving the completeness and timeliness of nursing assessments and interventions would reduce pulmonary complications for patients who have strokes and secondary dysphagia. To achieve the goal of zero pulmonary complications in patients with dysphagia following a stroke, the intensive care unit, medical ward nurses, and dieticians received in-service training in the following areas: How to conduct a complete and accurate assessment of patients to identify signs and symptoms of dysphagia. The importance of assessing stroke patients for gag reflex and swallowing on admission. The importance of promptly notifying the patient's attending physician within two hours if dysphagia signs or symptoms are identified. Need Assignment Help?