Foreword

[Extract] Today, acute stroke management is following closely in the footsteps of cardiology, supported by a growing arsenal of interventions that aim to reduce neurological disability and death, as well as prevent a fi rst - ever or secondary stroke event. What used to be a clinical practice area deemed highly undesirable and diffi cult to recruit nurses to, is now viewed as exciting and attractive in centres that have adopted aggressive reperfusion therapies. Rehabilitative strategies have also expanded dramatically and now include exciting technologies such as robotics and a variety of approaches to support return to functional independence. Overall, evidence - based, cross - continuum strategies are being implemented in centres once plagued by traditional and often unscientifi c practices, supporting improved interdisciplinary health care and ultimately, enhanced patient and societal outcomes. In short, stroke nursing care has come of age.