Fast Facts for Stroke Care Nursing: An Expert Guide in a Nutshell

"[P]rovides a succinct yet comprehensive review of the evolution of stroke patient management. The text starts with a brief overview of the anatomy and physiology, tying it to the types of strokes, the assessment, and diagnostic tools. Acute measures and prevention of secondary injury are outlined and lead us to review the potential complications and finally the rehabilitation and patient/family education. Particularly helpful is the inclusion of the Brain Attack Coalition, The Joint Commission, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services core measures.[The author] has done an excellent job of keeping this book appropriate for everyday use."

--From the Foreword
Linda Littlejohns, MSN, RN, FAAN, CNRN

The best aspects of the book are that it is easy to read and factual, and it includes a wide range of information... I enjoyed the book. It is easy to read and navigate. Nurses will find it extremely helpful and valuable in the clinical setting. This is a good addition to a clinical library." Score: 98, 5 Stars.--Doody's Medical Reviews

This highly practical, pocket-sized reference for stroke care nurses provides quick, bedside access to the most current guidelines for diagnostic tests, state-of-the-art treatments, and best-practice standards. This resource distills lengthy and often complex national stroke care guidelines into clear, bite-size pieces of information. It also explains the rationale behind stroke standards, making them easier to embrace and incorporate into practice.

The book is organized consistently to foster rapid information retrieval. Each chapter includes objectives and such helpful features as "Fast Facts in a Nutshell," targeted segments that provide critical information at a glance. The guide also serves as an instructive resource for nurses not specializing in neurology but who are increasingly being called on to care for stroke patients. The book is also a helpful resource for stroke program coordinators and as a review for SCRN and CNRN certification exams.

• Reflects current standards of the American Heart Association, the American Stroke Association, and The Joint Commission
• Provides crucial information at a glance about diagnostic tests, state-of-the-art treatments, and best-practice standards
• Distills lengthy and complex national stroke care standards into clear, concise information
• Includes a comprehensive review of diagnostic studies
• Serves as a concise review for SCRN and CNRN certification exams

Kathy J. Morrison, MSN, RN, SCRN, FAHA is a certified stroke nurse, a Fellow of the American Heart Association, and a recipient of the prestigious Pennsylvania State Nightingale Award for Clinical Nursing Excellence. As the stroke program manager for the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, she oversaw all aspects of stroke care, from prehospital through stroke clinic follow-up until her retirement in 2021. She played a pivotal role in Penn State Hershey Medical Center's attainment of The Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center certification and has mentored many stroke program coordinators through the process of attaining Primary and Comprehensive Stroke Center certification. Ms. Morrison also served on The Joint Commission Expert Panel for Stroke Center certification standards.

Ms. Morrison's published works have appeared in nursing journals and neuroscience course curricula. Her books Fast Facts for Stroke Care Nursing 1st & 2nd editions, Stroke Certification Study Guide for Nurses and Stroke Nursing Certification Review have been well received in the nursing community, both as handy guides for stroke care nurses and as preparation tools for the SCRN(R) certification exam. Even in retirement, she remains active in leading SCRN(R) review courses, participating in community stroke awareness campaigns and facilitating a regional stroke survivor support group. She established the Stroke Coordinators of Pennsylvania (SCoPA) in 2010--a group of stroke coordinators whose collaborative work has resulted in significant improvements in stroke care and outcomes in community hospitals across central Pennsylvania. She is a Fellow of the American Heart Association, a member of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, a board member of the Susquehanna Valley Chapter of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses and a board member of the Stroke Survivors Foundation.