Creating a culture for rehabilitation in the acute stroke unit

Abstract

In this paper the scholarly nursing research and realities within the workplace were examined to identify the factors that either facilitated or obstructed the implementation of stroke rehabilitation best practices within the acute stroke unit at the Regina Qu‟Appelle Health Region (RQHR). This was done within the context of stroke rehabilitation in Canada, focusing on the incidence of stroke and the strengths and weaknesses that exist within the delivery of stroke rehabilitation best practices at the national, provincial and local levels. Based on these findings, recommendations from the perspective of the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) were made to promote the practice of equal and timely access to stroke rehabilitation for all persons diagnosed with moderate to severe stroke treated within the RQHR.