Which of the following is listed as a nursing goal in CVA care besides airway management?

• A. Rehabilitation
• B. Chemotherapy
• C. Dialysis
• D. Anesthesia

Answer: (A)

Rehabilitation is central after the acute stabilization of a stroke because restoring movement, speech, and independence is a primary aim of recovery. Once airway and basic stability are secured, nursing care shifts toward preventing complications and promoting functional gains through early mobility, proper positioning, and support for physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Nurses help patients perform gentle ROM, assist with transfers and ADLs, and provide education to the patient and family to encourage participation and adapt to deficits. This approach supports neuroplastic changes and helps reduce long-term disability, leading to better outcomes and quality of life.

Chemotherapy, dialysis, and anesthesia aren’t typical nursing goals in stroke care. Chemotherapy is for cancer treatment, dialysis for kidney failure, and anesthesia relates to perioperative care; they do not address the functional recovery focus of CVA care.