Acute stroke management in emergency departments.

The introduction of thrombolysis and dedicated stroke units have greatly improved the management of people who have had a stroke. However, for the benefits of these advances to be fully realised, emergency department nurses must be able to recognise the signs of stroke and act appropriately and quickly. With thrombolysis, timing is all-important, so practitioners need the knowledge and skills to assess individuals' suitability for this treatment, request immediate brain scans and refer patients directly to stroke units.