Background: Stroke represents a major source of mortality and morbidity globally. The role of a stroke Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) as an expert team member in early supported discharge for stroke, is not well described although it is well established in other models of after-hospital and outreach specialist care in the community. In this scoping review we explore the evidence in relation to the role of the stroke nurse providing secondary prevention interventions in a community setting.
Objective: The aim of this scoping review is to explore the evidence in relation to the role of the stroke nurse providing secondary prevention interventions in a community setting.
Design: Scoping review of the available literature and narrative synthesis.
Methods: A narrative scoping literature review was conducted in accordance with the five-stage process of Arksey and O'Malley (2005) and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The following databases were searched: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and systematic literature searches, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and grey literature. Search terms included stroke, stroke rehabilitation, community nursing, early supported discharge.
Results: A total of 2531 references were identified. Following the removal of duplicates (838), and checking each article for suitability, 2507 articles were excluded, and 24 articles were included in this scoping review. Six key themes emerged from the data collection: (1) Absence of Nursing Role following Hospital Discharge; (2) Stroke Nursing in Secondary Prevention and Management of Risk Factors (Modifiable and Non-Modifiable); (3) Role of the Stroke Nurse in Secondary Prevention- Blood Pressure Management; (4) Role of the Stroke Nursing following Discharge Home; (5) Telephone Specific Interventions; (6) Blended Model- Telephone Calls and Home Visits. A narrative synthesis of these themes was conducted.
Conclusions: Nurses working in stroke care are key health educators in stroke programme prevention implementation. Stroke nurses specialising in the unique challenges and needs of stroke patients play an essential role in educating this population in the community. Stroke nurses as part of early supported discharge have expert knowledge and the opportunity to educate patients in the community to reduce their overall risk of having further strokes and improve their overall health.
Registration: This scoping review protocol was registered in Open Science Framework on 5th April 2023. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/UCZ6R and published in HRB Open on 8th January 2024 https://doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.13818.1.
Keywords: clinical nurse specialist; community care; early supported discharge; primary care stroke; scoping review; stroke rehabilitation.
© 2025 The Author(s). Nursing Open published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.