Anosognosia for hemiplegia (AHP) is a lack of awareness of any disability due to hemiplegia, as a result of an injury, often a stroke. The purpose of this project was to understand how nurses assess patient awareness of their disability utilizing the Morse Fall Risk Scale. Data was gathered from a stroke rehabilitation unit using the Visual-Analogue Test for Anosognosia for Hemiplegia for Motor Deficit (VATAm) scale. This scale compares patient and clinician ratings of how well a certain task is performed. The data showed that clinicians ranked their patient's motor abilities as much worse than the patient. However, it was found that 100% of the time, nurses reported their patients as being aware of their disability.  This indicates a major discrepancy in that clinicians were unaware of the patient’s AHP. 

A series of interviews were conducted with nurses to assess their understanding and use of the Morse Fall Risk Scale, specifically the question, “Is the patient aware of their deficits?” Interviews with nurses indicated that varying methods of assessment are used to determine patient awareness of physical deficits.

There is not a standardized assessment used to determine a patient's awareness at the bedside. This conclusion leaves patients with an increased risk for falls or injuries.