Fast CE For Less
Enroll Now
Listen to this page
Back to all courses
Clinical Practice
Version 1.0
Audio version available

Strokes: Understanding the Different Types

Build nursing skill in recognizing ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, TIA, and stroke mimics and initiating evidence-based emergency care.

Registered nurse performing a focused neurologic assessment on an adult with sudden facial weakness and arm drift in an acute-care setting while another clinician prepares emergency brain imaging.
Contact hours
3
Format
Self-paced, online
Last reviewed
Sep 19, 2026

$15.00or included with All-Access

$5 per contact hour · 3 contact hours

Secure checkout. Certificates issue instantly and stay in your vault even after a subscription ends.

  • No post-test required · unlimited retakes · evaluation and attestation always required

Course Purpose

Build nursing skill in recognizing ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, TIA, and stroke mimics and initiating evidence-based emergency care.

Continuing Education Credit Designation

This educational activity is credited for 3 contact hours at completion of the activity.

Overview

After completing this course, the nurse will be able to distinguish ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, transient ischemic attack, and Bell’s palsy using focused history, examination, and imaging findings. The nurse will also be able to activate time-critical stroke systems, support reperfusion or hemorrhage management, prevent complications, educate patients, and coordinate rehabilitation and secondary prevention.

Objectives

Upon completion of this independent study, the learner will be able to:

  1. Differentiate ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, transient ischemic attack, and Bell’s palsy by clinical presentation and diagnostic findings.
  2. Apply a rapid stroke assessment that includes last-known-well time, blood glucose, focused neurologic findings, and emergency stroke activation.
  3. Identify modifiable and nonmodifiable stroke risk factors and select appropriate patient education priorities.
  4. Explain nursing responsibilities before and after intravenous thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, and treatment of hemorrhagic stroke.
  5. Recognize common post-stroke complications and initiate evidence-based prevention, monitoring, and escalation measures.
  6. Coordinate interdisciplinary rehabilitation and secondary prevention based on neurologic deficits, swallowing safety, mobility, cognition, and patient goals.

Policy Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the policies of FastCEForLess.com. This course should be used for informational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, prescribe, recommend, or initiate therapies or treatments in any setting. This course is copyrighted by Fast CE For Less, Inc. and may not be replicated, copied, or dispersed without written consent.

Disclosures

Fast CE For Less, Inc. and its authors have no disclosures. There is no commercial support.

Who this course is for:

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, registered nurses, licensed practical or vocational nurses, and other healthcare providers in any setting who want continuing education on Strokes: Understanding the Different Types.

Course outline

11 sections · finish in any order across devices

  1. 1

    Introduction

  2. 2

    Stroke Types

  3. 3

    Transient Ischemic Attack

  4. 4

    Stroke Risk Factors

  5. 5

    How Strokes Are Diagnosed

  6. 6

    Difference Between Stroke and Bell’s Palsy

  7. 7

    Treatment Interventions for Strokes

  8. 8

    Post-Stroke Complications

  9. 9

    Post-Stroke Rehabilitation

  10. 10

    Nursing Considerations

  11. 11

    Conclusion

References

The full reference list is included inside the course, after the Conclusion.

Purchase required to access Fast Facts, pretests, posttests, course evaluations and certificates. Our one free course is the only exception.

This Course Satisfies

    Requirement summaries come from our state requirement records. All Users of Fast CE For Less’s website and content are responsible for knowing their state’s license and renewal requirements.

    Update history

      Take this course and the rest of the library

      Unlimited annual access covers every course, every state you track, and your certificates forever.

      ENROLL

      Still have a question?

      Ask about requirements, a course, pricing or your license. Answers come from our own course list and state notes.

      Ask about your license or a course

      Answers come from Fast CE For Less's own course list and our notes on state requirements. Always check your board's own rules before you count hours.