Improving stroke care through action research.

Stroke accounts for approximately 20% of beds occupied on general medical wards yet nurses felt inadequately prepared to participate fully in the interdisciplinary approach to stroke rehabilitation. An action research project was established to improve stroke care and rehabilitation in a general medical ward. Results indicate a correlation between knowledge and attitudes: the greater the nurse's understanding the more positive the nurse is towards nursing involvement in rehabilitation. It was concluded that nurses have a vital part to play in the rehabilitation of stroke patients and that their contribution can be enhanced through greater understanding. Further research is needed to determine the effects of greater nursing involvement in terms of quality of patient recovery and length of patient stay.