Discovery is not always onset—and an uncertain clock does not mean treatment is impossible. Nora connects six original adult stroke cases with recognition, glucose look-alikes, imaging, thrombolysis versus thrombectomy, treatment-specific blood pressure, post-treatment danger signs, aspirin timing, swallowing safety and communication. A rapid-fire review grounded in the 2026 AHA/ASA guideline and Canadian Stroke Best Practices.

• Report last known well and discovery separately; activate the stroke pathway even when onset is uncertain or symptoms resolve.
• Connect imaging, glucose, disabling deficits and the actual treatment stage to safer decisions; avoid universal time-window or BP shortcuts.
• Recognise post-thrombolysis deterioration and protect swallowing and communication before routine oral care tasks become hazards.

Chapters

00:00 Two clocks, one emergency

00:58 The nursing decisions that preserve options

01:53 More than a crooked smile

03:17 Discovery is not always onset

04:45 Work in parallel, not in a queue

06:25 The glucose look-alike

07:58 Two treatments, different eligibility

09:48 A small score can hide a big disability

11:16 The number needs its treatment context

12:39 Deterioration after clot treatment

14:14 The familiar pill can be the wrong next step

15:31 A clear sentence is not a swallow screen

17:09 The person is still part of the conversation

18:29 Gone is not cleared

20:05 Twelve cues to keep

Primary sources checked 9 October2026. Adult scope; current stroke pathways and orders control.

• AHA/ASA 2026 acute ischemic stroke guideline
• American Stroke Association: BE FAST warning signs
• Canadian Stroke Best Practices: acute ischemic treatment
• Canadian Stroke Best Practices: acute antithrombotics
• Canadian Stroke Best Practices: dysphagia and oral care

Independent educational content; not affiliated with or endorsed by NCSBN. NCLEX-RN is a registered trademark of NCSBN. Fictional teaching cases and host persona; licensed stock synthetic narration. Use alongside nursing education and current official exam resources. No individual medical advice or exam-result guarantee.

Corrections: ted.lownie@dal.ca