Thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke and the role of the nurse.

This article describes thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke as an emerging treatment modality. National clinical guidelines emphasized the need to identify acute stroke as a clinical priority and to develop protocols for the early assessment and treatment of stroke patients. Fast-track services developed in other clinical scenarios have proven successful and this article outlines the potential benefits of a fast-track service for acute stroke. The role of the clinical nurse specialist in stroke is central to this service; this role includes development and implementation of fast-track protocols in accident and emergency, rapid assessment for eligibility of thrombolysis and coordinating post-thrombolysis monitoring and acute stroke care.