The study aimed at analyzing the knowledge of nurses about the use of alteplase in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. An exploratory descriptive study was conducted in a stroke unit of a public hospital in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil, in the month of October 2010. The study included ten nurses, with a mean age of 25 years. The benefits of medication were presented in juxtaposition with the limitations of use. Strategies to expand the use of alteplase were pointed out by nurses. The knowledge of the investigation may contribute to the construction of nursing knowledge and help nurses who provide direct care to patients who undergo this treatment.
Stroke; Alteplase; Nursing Care