{"id":177408,"date":"2026-08-13T08:33:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T08:33:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/?p=177408"},"modified":"2026-08-13T11:17:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T11:17:24","slug":"nihss-score-sheet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/","title":{"rendered":"NIHSS Score Sheet Template"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"MedicalWebPage\",\"headline\":\"NIHSS Score Sheet\",\"description\":\"How the NIH Stroke Scale works: the 11 items, the 15 scored elements, the 0 to 42 severity bands, and a free printable quick-capture score sheet.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/\",\"audience\":{\"@type\":\"MedicalAudience\",\"audienceType\":\"Clinician\"},\"reviewedBy\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Dr Vanja Kitanova\",\"jobTitle\":\"Medical Reviewer\",\"affiliation\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Pabau\"},\"knowsAbout\":[\"Clinical Assessment Tools\",\"Neurological Examination\",\"Stroke Care Protocols\",\"Clinical Documentation\"],\"sameAs\":\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/blog\/author\/vanja\/\"},\"mainEntity\":{\"@type\":\"DigitalDocument\",\"name\":\"NIHSS quick-capture score sheet\",\"description\":\"A simplified one-page stroke assessment capture form with 11 scored fields and a 29-point maximum, plus space for the total score, treatment notes and a clinician signature. It is a bedside quick-reference sheet, not a reproduction of the full standardized 0 to 42 NIH Stroke Scale.\",\"encodingFormat\":\"application\/pdf\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cdn.pabau.com\/cdn\/attachments\/pulse\/content-engine\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/nihss-score-sheet.pdf\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"isAccessibleForFree\":true,\"offers\":{\"@type\":\"Offer\",\"price\":\"0\",\"priceCurrency\":\"USD\",\"availability\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\/InStock\"},\"hasDigitalDocumentPermission\":{\"@type\":\"DigitalDocumentPermission\",\"permissionType\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ReadPermission\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Pabau\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.pabau.com\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-13\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-13\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-13\"}<\/script>\n\n\n        <div id=\"key_takeaways\">\n            <div class=\"header\">\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Key-Takeaways-Icon.svg\" alt=\"Key takeaways\" height=\"42\" width=\"42\">\n                                <h3>Key takeaways<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"list\">\n                                                            <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>The NIH Stroke Scale covers 11 items and 15 scored elements, producing a total between 0 and 42.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>Score only what the patient does on the first attempt, never coach, and always record the exact time.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>Severity bands run from 1 to 4 for a minor stroke up to 21 and above for a severe stroke.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>Our free download is a simplified 11-field capture sheet with a 29-point ceiling, not the full standardized instrument.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>Practice management software like Pabau keeps assessment scores, timestamps and follow-up actions in one patient record.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<div style=\"background: linear-gradient(135deg, #E2F2FD 0%, #DFE3FD 100%); border-radius: 16px; padding: 40px; margin: 32px 0;\">\n<h2 style=\"margin: 0 0 12px 0; font-size: 22px; color: #121d36;\">Download your free NIHSS quick-capture score sheet<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 20px 0; color: #444; font-size: 15px;\">A one-page form with 11 scored fields covering consciousness, gaze, vision, facial palsy, motor arm and leg, ataxia, sensory, language, dysarthria and inattention. It is a simplified quick-capture sheet with a 29-point ceiling, so use the official 0 to 42 scale for the formal record.<\/p>\n<a style=\"display: inline-block; background: #037CD2; color: #fff; padding: 14px 28px; border-radius: 8px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: 600; font-size: 15px;\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.pabau.com\/cdn\/attachments\/pulse\/content-engine\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/nihss-score-sheet.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download template<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Acute stroke teams work against the clock, and every minute without treatment costs viable brain tissue. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ninds.nih.gov\/health-information\/stroke\/assess-and-treat\/nih-stroke-scale\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NIH Stroke Scale<\/a>, known as the NIHSS, is the standard way to put a number on the damage at the bedside. It scores 11 items across 15 elements for a total between 0 and 42.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide covers what each item measures and how the severity bands translate into clinical action. It also covers the administration rules that keep one examiner&#8217;s score comparable with the next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also comes with a free printable sheet. That download is a simplified capture form rather than the full standardized instrument, and the section below sets out exactly where the two differ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the NIHSS score sheet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The NIHSS score sheet is the recording form for the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, a standardized measure of acute stroke severity. It works through structured observation and patient response across 11 neurological items. Totals run from 0, meaning no stroke symptoms, up to 42.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stroke teams reach for it in the first minutes after a patient arrives. The score does four jobs at once:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li>Supports the acute stroke diagnosis and helps separate it from a mimic<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Sets a neurological baseline that later assessments can be measured against<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Feeds treatment selection, including thrombolysis eligibility<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Gives an early read on prognosis and the level of care the patient needs<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is the most widely used stroke severity scale in the world. Administration takes about five minutes, needs no special equipment, and produces reproducible scores when examiners stick to the protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li>Developed and validated by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Used in emergency departments, stroke units, and acute care settings worldwide<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Built into stroke care guidelines from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Expected as part of Joint Commission stroke center certification<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Collected as a quality data element in stroke registries and hospital reporting<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 11 items and what each one measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The scale breaks down into 11 structured items. Each has its own scoring rules, and several carry bilateral left and right components. Together they cover the neurological ground a stroke is most likely to affect, at a coarser grain than focused <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/blog\/hand-nerve-tests\/\">hand nerve tests<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden;font-size:15px;line-height:1.5;margin:1.5em 0 2em;box-shadow:0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.08)\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Item<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">What it assesses<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Score range<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">1a. Level of consciousness<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Alertness and responsiveness to verbal or tactile stimulus<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">0-3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">1b. LOC questions<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Ability to give the current month and the patient&#8217;s age<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">0-2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">1c. LOC commands<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Ability to follow two commands, such as open and close the hand<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">0-2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">2. Best gaze<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Horizontal eye movement and gaze deviation<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">0-2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">3. Visual fields<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Visual field integrity, tested by confrontation<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">0-3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">4. Facial palsy<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Facial symmetry at rest and on grimace<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">0-3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">5a and 5b. Motor arm, left and right<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Arm strength and drift, scored separately on each side<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">0-4 each<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">6a and 6b. Motor leg, left and right<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Leg strength and drift, scored separately on each side<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">0-4 each<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">7. Limb ataxia<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Coordination on finger-to-nose and heel-to-shin testing<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">0-2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">8. Sensory<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Pinprick sensation across face, arm, and leg on both sides<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">0-2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">9. Best language<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Fluency and comprehension through naming, repetition, and reading<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">0-3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">10. Dysarthria<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Clarity of speech, as distinct from language ability<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">0-2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">11. Extinction and inattention<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Neglect, tested with double simultaneous stimulation<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">0-2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Add the item scores together and you have the total. Because consciousness splits into three parts and the motor items are scored on each side, the full sheet captures 15 elements. Clinicians still call it the 11-item scale, using the items as shorthand for the assessment domains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is inside the download<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The PDF at the top of this page is a one-page capture form. It is not a reproduction of the official NIHSS booklet, and we want you to know that before you print it. It carries 11 scored fields and tops out at 29 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alongside the scored fields you get space for the patient name, the date, the healthcare provider, the total score, treatment recommendations, and a clinician signature. Three differences from the official scale matter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li>The three consciousness items appear as a single field scored 0 to 2, rather than as 1a, 1b and 1c<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Motor arm and motor leg are single 0 to 4 fields, so there is no separate left and right score<\/li>\n\n\n<li>The interpretation line printed on the form still shows a 21 to 42 severe band, which its 29-point structure cannot reach<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden;font-size:15px;line-height:1.5;margin:1.5em 0 2em;box-shadow:0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.08)\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Element<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Official NIHSS<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">This download<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">Consciousness<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">1a (0-3), 1b (0-2) and 1c (0-2)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">One combined field (0-2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">Motor arm<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Left and right, 0-4 each<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Single field (0-4)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">Motor leg<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Left and right, 0-4 each<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Single field (0-4)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">Scored elements<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">15<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">Maximum total<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">42<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">29<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Treat the download as a bedside quick-reference and handover sheet, or as a teaching aid for staff learning the domains. For a documented NIHSS that another clinician can compare against, work from the official scale and record all 15 elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to interpret an NIHSS score<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raw scores translate into clinical action. The bands below apply to the full 0 to 42 scale:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden;font-size:15px;line-height:1.5;margin:1.5em 0 2em;box-shadow:0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.08)\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">NIHSS score<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Severity<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">What it usually means<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">0<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">No stroke symptoms<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Normal neurological exam on every item<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">1-4<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Minor stroke<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Small deficit, and recovery is often quick<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">5-15<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Moderate stroke<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Clear deficits, and close monitoring is needed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">16-20<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Moderate to severe stroke<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Larger infarct, and intensive care is often involved<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">21-42<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Severe stroke<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Extensive damage, with a high risk of poor outcome<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cutoffs are conventions rather than fixed law, and some guidelines draw them slightly differently. The item definitions themselves are fixed, and calculators such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdcalc.com\/calc\/715\/nih-stroke-scale-score-nihss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">MDCalc<\/a> apply the same ones. Always check your own protocol for thrombolysis thresholds, since they shift with imaging findings and local guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to score a patient step by step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Administering the NIHSS well takes training and a strict routine. A clinician who improvises, even helpfully, produces a score that cannot be compared with the last one. Five steps carry most of the reliability, and they sit alongside broader <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/blog\/safer-clinical-notes\/\">documentation best practices<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li><strong>Prepare the patient and the space.<\/strong> Position the patient safely and away from distractions. Explain each test before you run it. Do not coach or hint at the answer you are hoping for.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Work through the items in order.<\/strong> Follow the sequence on the sheet, from consciousness through gaze, vision, facial palsy, motor, ataxia, sensory, language, dysarthria and extinction. Do not skip or reorder items.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Score the first response only.<\/strong> Record what the patient does the first time. You may repeat an instruction once if it was not understood, but the first attempt is the one that counts.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep the two sides separate.<\/strong> Motor arm and motor leg are scored left and right. Our simplified sheet has one field per limb pair, so write both values beside it or use the official form.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Total the score and act on it.<\/strong> Add the elements, read the total against the severity bands, and write it in the record with the exact time of assessment.<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common NIHSS scoring errors and how to avoid them<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stroke center audits keep finding the same handful of mistakes. <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/blog\/medical-forms-at-your-healthcare-practice\/\">Clinical forms<\/a> built for reliable documentation head off most of them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li><strong>Coaching the patient.<\/strong> Saying try harder biases the response. Score what the patient does on their own, not what you believe they could manage.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Recording the best of several attempts.<\/strong> The first response is the valid one. If the second try looks better, it still does not go on the sheet.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Confusing dysarthria with aphasia.<\/strong> Dysarthria is how clearly speech is formed. Aphasia is language comprehension and production. They are separate items, and both matter to the <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/industry\/speech-therapy-software\/\">speech therapy practice<\/a> that takes over rehab.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Losing the left and right split.<\/strong> Motor arm and motor leg each carry two scores. A lone 4 with no side attached is an incomplete record.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Mixing up gaze and visual fields.<\/strong> Gaze deviation is an inability to move the eyes. Visual field loss is an inability to see one side. Each has its own clinical meaning.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Leaving out the time.<\/strong> The score only guides thrombolysis if it is timed. Write the hour and minute every time you assess.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who administers the NIH stroke scale?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In acute settings the NIHSS is administered by neurologists, emergency physicians, stroke nurses, and paramedics. Rehabilitation and follow-up teams use it later to track recovery, often inside a broader <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/templates\/comprehensive-assessment\/\">comprehensive assessment<\/a>. Because several people score the same patient over a stay, everyone has to work from the same definitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certification is not a legal requirement everywhere. The American Heart Association strongly recommends it, and many stroke centers require it of anyone who scores a patient. Training usually runs to a two to four hour course, supervised administration under a certified examiner, and testing on standardized video cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plenty of centers ask for annual recertification. NINDS publishes the official certification materials and the standardized video cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who this template helps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The download suits anyone who needs the domains in front of them quickly, on paper, without opening a system first:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li><strong>Emergency and stroke unit teams<\/strong> who want a scratch sheet at the bedside before the score goes into the record<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Paramedics and transfer teams<\/strong> folding the score into an <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/blog\/emt-patient-assessment-2\/\">EMT patient assessment<\/a> before handover<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Rehabilitation and neurology teams<\/strong> tracking recovery in a <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/industry\/physical-therapy-emr\/\">physical therapy practice<\/a> after the acute phase<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Educators and students<\/strong> learning the domains before they sit a certification course<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The benefit is consistency. A printed sheet keeps every examiner asking the same questions in the same order, so the numbers mean something when they reach the record. It does not replace the official instrument, so treat it as the first step rather than the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Pabau keeps assessment scores in the patient record<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paper travels well, and in a crisis that counts for a lot. The trouble starts afterwards. The sheet sits in one folder, someone retypes the numbers into the system, and pulling a trend out of it later is slow work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Practice management software like Pabau removes that double entry for practices that follow stroke patients beyond the acute phase. Rehabilitation, neurology follow-up and physical therapy teams can build the score sheet as a <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/features\/patient-intake-software\/\">digital form<\/a> that saves straight into the <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/features\/medical-records-management\/\">client record<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the form is digital, four things get easier:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li>Every earlier score sits in the same record, so you can see at a glance whether a patient is improving<\/li>\n\n\n<li>The date and time save themselves, which solves the most common documentation miss<\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/features\/automated-workflows-software\/\">Automated workflows<\/a> can fire the follow-up task or referral the moment a form is submitted<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Scores come out as structured data you can report on across the whole practice<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result is less retyping and a cleaner audit trail, so your team spends the time on the patient instead of the paperwork.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div id=\"book_a_demo\">\n            <div class=\"left-side\">\n                <div class=\"logo\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\"\n                        src=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Logo.svg\"\n                        alt=\"Logo\"\n                        loading=\"lazy\"\n                    \/>\n                <\/div>\n\n                <h3 class=\"heading\">\n                    Keep every assessment score in one patient record                <\/h3>\n\n                <p class=\"description\">\n                    Pabau&#8217;s digital forms and client records capture assessment scores, timestamps and follow-up actions in one place. Nothing has to be retyped from a paper sheet, so the history is there when you need it.                <\/p>\n\n                <div class=\"button-group\">\n                    <a href=\"\/book-demo\/\" class=\"btn btn-scale-effect btn-cta-color btn-md\">\n                        <span class=\"btn-text\">Book a demo<\/span>\n                        <div class=\"btn-icon btn-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                            <svg\n                                width=\"14\"\n                                height=\"12\"\n                                viewBox=\"0 0 14 12\"\n                                fill=\"none\"\n                                xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n                            >\n                                <path\n                                    d=\"M0.75 4.77295C0.335786 4.77295 0 5.10874 0 5.52295C0 5.93716 0.335786 6.27295 0.75 6.27295V5.52295V4.77295ZM13.2803 6.05328C13.5732 5.76039 13.5732 5.28551 13.2803 4.99262L8.50736 0.219648C8.21447 -0.073245 7.73959 -0.073245 7.4467 0.219648C7.15381 0.512542 7.15381 0.987415 7.4467 1.28031L11.6893 5.52295L7.4467 9.76559C7.15381 10.0585 7.15381 10.5334 7.4467 10.8263C7.73959 11.1191 8.21447 11.1191 8.50736 10.8263L13.2803 6.05328ZM0.75 5.52295V6.27295L12.75 6.27295V5.52295V4.77295L0.75 4.77295V5.52295Z\"\n                                    fill=\"currentColor\"\n                                ><\/path>\n                            <\/svg>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"right-side\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                    src=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Home-Page-Concept-4.webp\"\n                    alt=\"Pabau clinical documentation dashboard\"\n                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                \/>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The NIHSS earns its place because everyone scores it the same way. That only holds while the rules do. Score the first attempt, never coach, keep both sides separate, and write down the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use our sheet for the bedside and the handover, where speed matters more than completeness. When the score goes into the medical record, work from the official 0 to 42 scale. That way your number means the same thing to the next clinician who reads it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the score exists, the remaining problem is keeping it somewhere your team can find it again. <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/book-demo\/\">Book a demo<\/a> to see how Pabau holds assessment scores, timestamps and follow-ups in one patient record.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div id=\"expert_picks\">\n            <div class=\"header\">\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Expert-Picks.svg\" alt=\"Continue your research\" height=\"42\" width=\"42\">\n                                <h3>Continue your research<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"content\">\n                                                            <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#54B2D3\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><strong>Tracking motor recovery after the acute phase?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/templates\/motor-assessment-scale\/\">Motor assessment scale<\/a> gives rehab teams a scored way to follow arm, hand and leg function over time.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#54B2D3\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><strong>Need the handover itself to be structured?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/templates\/sbar-report\/\">SBAR report template<\/a> sets out a format that carries the score and the context to the receiving team.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#54B2D3\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><strong>Building out your bedside neurological exam?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/blog\/kernig-sign-test\/\">Kernig sign test<\/a> walks through another bedside sign and how to record what you find.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#54B2D3\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><strong>Want to measure grip strength as recovery goes on?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/blog\/pinch-grip-test\/\">Pinch grip test<\/a> covers a quick way to quantify hand function at follow-up.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#54B2D3\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><strong>Writing up the assessment afterwards?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/templates\/medical-notes\/\">Medical notes template<\/a> shows what a complete, defensible clinical note needs to contain.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1786607748858\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the NIHSS score sheet used for?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The NIHSS quantifies acute stroke severity across 11 items and 15 scored elements, on a 0 to 42 scale. Teams use it to support the diagnosis, guide treatment, and read early prognosis.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1786607748863\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is the downloadable sheet the same as the official NIHSS?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. The sheet on this page is a simplified capture form with 11 fields and a 29-point maximum. It merges the three consciousness items into one field and scores each limb pair once. Use the official NINDS scale for anything that goes into the medical record.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1786607748859\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Do I need certification to administer the NIHSS?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Certification is not legally required everywhere, but the American Heart Association strongly recommends it and many stroke centers insist on it. Training runs about two to four hours, plus supervised practice and testing on standardized video cases.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1786607748860\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What does an NIHSS score of 15 mean?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A score of 15 sits at the top of the moderate band, which runs from 5 to 15. It signals clear neurological deficits. Prognosis depends on the location and etiology of the stroke, and thrombolysis remains an option inside the treatment window.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1786607748862\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are the 11 items on the NIH stroke scale?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The 11 items are level of consciousness, gaze, visual fields, facial palsy, motor arm, motor leg, limb ataxia, sensory, language, dysarthria, and extinction or inattention. Consciousness and the two motor items split further, giving 15 scored elements.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1786607748861\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Where can I download a printable NIHSS score sheet?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The free printable sheet is in the download box at the top of this page, and it is a simplified quick-capture form. The full standardized scale and its training materials are published by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Download your free NIHSS quick-capture score sheet A one-page form with 11 scored fields covering consciousness, gaze, vision, facial palsy, motor arm and leg, ataxia, sensory, language, dysarthria and inattention. It is a simplified quick-capture sheet with a 29-point ceiling, so use the official 0 to 42 scale for the formal record. Download template Acute [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":177407,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"81","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_seo_original_html":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4266,32,4138],"tags":[3893,4037,4040,1382],"class_list":["post-177408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-clinical-guides","category-practice-management-tips","category-templates","tag-post-stroke-recovery","tag-prehospital-stroke-scale","tag-stroke-assessment","tag-template"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>NIHSS Score Sheet Template<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" 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Outside of work, she enjoys photography, weekend getaways, and finding inspiration in everyday experiences.","url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/blog\/author\/despina-petrushevska\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/#faq-question-1786607748858","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/#faq-question-1786607748858","name":"What is the NIHSS score sheet used for?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The NIHSS quantifies acute stroke severity across 11 items and 15 scored elements, on a 0 to 42 scale. Teams use it to support the diagnosis, guide treatment, and read early prognosis.","inLanguage":"nl-NL"},"inLanguage":"nl-NL"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/#faq-question-1786607748863","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/#faq-question-1786607748863","name":"Is the downloadable sheet the same as the official NIHSS?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. The sheet on this page is a simplified capture form with 11 fields and a 29-point maximum. It merges the three consciousness items into one field and scores each limb pair once. Use the official NINDS scale for anything that goes into the medical record.","inLanguage":"nl-NL"},"inLanguage":"nl-NL"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/#faq-question-1786607748859","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/#faq-question-1786607748859","name":"Do I need certification to administer the NIHSS?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Certification is not legally required everywhere, but the American Heart Association strongly recommends it and many stroke centers insist on it. Training runs about two to four hours, plus supervised practice and testing on standardized video cases.","inLanguage":"nl-NL"},"inLanguage":"nl-NL"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/#faq-question-1786607748860","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/#faq-question-1786607748860","name":"What does an NIHSS score of 15 mean?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A score of 15 sits at the top of the moderate band, which runs from 5 to 15. It signals clear neurological deficits. Prognosis depends on the location and etiology of the stroke, and thrombolysis remains an option inside the treatment window.","inLanguage":"nl-NL"},"inLanguage":"nl-NL"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/#faq-question-1786607748862","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/#faq-question-1786607748862","name":"What are the 11 items on the NIH stroke scale?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The 11 items are level of consciousness, gaze, visual fields, facial palsy, motor arm, motor leg, limb ataxia, sensory, language, dysarthria, and extinction or inattention. Consciousness and the two motor items split further, giving 15 scored elements.","inLanguage":"nl-NL"},"inLanguage":"nl-NL"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/#faq-question-1786607748861","position":6,"url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/templates\/nihss-score-sheet\/#faq-question-1786607748861","name":"Where can I download a printable NIHSS score sheet?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The free printable sheet is in the download box at the top of this page, and it is a simplified quick-capture form. The full standardized scale and its training materials are published by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.","inLanguage":"nl-NL"},"inLanguage":"nl-NL"}]}},"yoast":{"focus_keyword":"NIHSS Score Sheet","seo_title":"NIHSS Score Sheet Template","meta_description":"Free printable NIHSS score sheet: 11 items, 15 scored elements, and 0\u201342 stroke severity bands explained for teams.","content_score":"90","is_cornerstone":"","related_keyphrases":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/84"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=177408"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177408\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":178397,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177408\/revisions\/178397"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/177407"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=177408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=177408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=177408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}