ALL ARTICLES PUBLISHED as part of the stroke series highlighted that caring for stroke patients is motivating, stimulating and skilful. Throughout the series the authors have used current research plus their experiences of clinical practice to discuss the many physical, psychological and social problems that patients and carers experience following stroke. The articles highlighted that nurses can intervene to prevent complications, such as malnutrition, dehydration, incontinence, shoulder pain and poor oral hygiene, and provide effective strategies to care for stroke patients with communication impairment (Rowat 2011, Borthwick 2012, Cowey 2012, Dickinson 2012, Pilcher and MacArthur 2012, Smith 2012).