Emergency care of the patient with subarachnoid haemorrhage

Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating neurological disorder which frequently leads to serious neurological impairment and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. One in twenty patients who present to emergency care environments with SAH are misdiagnosed. The emergency care environment presents as a challenging setting for the management of the needs of those following SAH, requiring proactive, knowledgable and holistic care to work effectively within a multidisciplinary context to achieve positive patient outcomes. This article highlights the key aspects of the nurse's role in caring for a patient with a subarachnoid haemorrhage.