The nurse working in the emergency department (ED) uses which diagnostic scale to assess the severity of presenting signs and symptoms of strokes?

A. NIH Stroke Scale: The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is used to assess the severity of neurological deficits in stroke patients. It evaluates level of consciousness, language, visual fields, motor function, and sensory abilities, providing a standardized score to guide treatment decisions and monitor progression. B. Cincinnati Stroke Scale: The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale is a quick screening tool used by emergency responders to identify possible strokes in the field. It assesses facial droop, arm drift, and speech abnormalities but does not quantify stroke severity. C. Glasgow Outcome Scale: The Glasgow Outcome Scale measures functional recovery and long-term outcomes after brain injury, not the acute severity of stroke symptoms at presentation. D. Hemorrhage Scale: Hemorrhage scales, such as the Fisher scale, are used to grade the extent of bleeding on imaging studies. They do not provide a structured assessment of neurological deficits in acute stroke patients.