Which of the following could be a sign of a cerebrovascular accident in a client with atrial fibrillation?

A cerebrovascular accident (CVA), commonly referred to as a stroke, can present with several different signs and symptoms, reflecting the acute injury to the brain. In the context of a client with atrial fibrillation, the risk of stroke is particularly elevated due to the potential for emboli formation that can travel to the brain.

Severe headache may indicate a hemorrhagic stroke, where bleeding occurs in the brain, causing pressure and pain. Vision changes could be a sign of a stroke affecting the areas of the brain responsible for visual processing, leading to altered vision or even loss of vision. Weakness on one side of the body, or hemiparesis, is one of the classic signs of a stroke, often resulting from damage to the brain’s motor pathways.

Since all these symptoms can indicate a cerebrovascular accident and are particularly relevant in a client with atrial fibrillation, the comprehensive nature of these signs underscores the necessity for prompt assessment and intervention when any of them are present. Therefore, recognizing that any one of these symptoms could signify a possible stroke validates the choice of ‘All of the above’ as the correct response.