Assessment of knowledge levels of student nurses at a nursing vocational school on acute period care of stroke patients

Purpose: This study was planned to assess knowledge levels of students at a nursing vocational school on acute period care of stroke patients and to provide guiding recommendations towards requirements. Materials and Method: The study was carried out with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th grade students between April and May 2023. In this methodological descriptive study, sample group was created by 345 students aged 18 or older that were studying at nursing vocational school and agreed to participate in the study. Findings: When results are analyzed, while Cronbach Alpha value on Stroke Knowledge Assessment Scale was calculated as 0.837, alpha value of sub-dimensions was calculated between 0.726 and 0.762 and internal consistency of the scale was found to be highly reliable and suitable to use in the Turkish society. The mean general knowledge scores of the scale were found to be 37.77±8.19. Mean score was calculated as 18.21±4.27 for "Reaction" sub-dimension; 19.56±4.86 for "Knowledge" sub-dimension. When General Knowledge scores of students are categorized as low-medium-high, 0.9% of students received low, 51.6% received medium, and 47.5% received high scores. Result: Raising awareness and increasing knowledge of student nurses on acute period care of stroke patients, ensuring access to and use of current guides on acute period care of stroke, encouraging and guiding on participating in scientific activities towards acute period care of stroke were recommended. Keywords: Stroke, acute stroke, nurse, student nurse, knowledge level