SCRN study plan

Map the cerebrovascular arterial territories (anterior, middle, posterior cerebral, vertebrobasilar) onto the functions they supply, drawing each territory from memory

Explain autoregulation, cerebral blood flow thresholds, and the ischemic penumbra in your own words without notes

Differentiate ischemic stroke subtypes (thrombotic, embolic, lacunar, watershed) by mechanism and typical lesion location

Describe the pathophysiology of hemorrhagic stroke, including hypertensive small-vessel rupture and amyloid angiopathy

List the modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and rank them by population impact

Perform and document a full NIHSS on two practice scenarios, scoring each item with a stated rationale

Sequence the prehospital-to-emergency-department stroke activation workflow, naming the time targets at each step

Select the correct initial imaging modality for suspected stroke and justify the choice in three different clinical vignettes

State the eligibility and contraindication criteria for IV thrombolysis and for endovascular thrombectomy from memory

Calculate and interpret door-to-needle and door-to-device intervals in three timed case scenarios

Describe post-thrombolysis monitoring parameters, including neurological checks, blood pressure limits, and bleeding surveillance

Outline blood pressure management targets for ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and post-thrombolysis states and explain why they differ

Distinguish stroke mimics from true stroke across at least six vignette presentations

Explain the interpretation of CT, CTA, and MRI findings in acute stroke and what each contributes to treatment decisions

Manage the acute complications of stroke: cerebral edema, hemorrhagic transformation, seizure, and dysphagia screening

Integrate assessment findings into a prioritized acute management plan for a complex multi-comorbidity case

Design a rehabilitation plan that matches stroke severity and lesion location to the appropriate level of care and therapy intensity

Describe the roles of physical, occupational, and speech therapy and the functional outcome measures each uses

Identify nursing interventions that prevent the complications of immobility, aspiration, and secondary injury

Apply the principles of neuroplasticity to justify task-specific and repetitive practice interventions

Select the appropriate antithrombotic regimen for secondary prevention across cardioembolic, large-vessel, and small-vessel stroke etiologies

Match antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, and glycemic targets to current guideline recommendations for post-stroke patients

Counsel a patient on lifestyle modification for stroke risk reduction using a structured, teach-back approach

Differentiate the secondary prevention strategy for hemorrhagic stroke from that for ischemic stroke

Assess post-stroke depression, cognitive change, and caregiver burden using validated screening tools and describe referral pathways

Apply ethical frameworks to capacity determination, goals-of-care discussions, and surrogate decision-making in stroke care

Coordinate transitions of care across acute, rehabilitation, and home settings, naming the barriers and the mitigation for each

Explain the psychosocial impact of aphasia and altered body image on the patient and family unit

Complete two full-length timed practice examinations under test-day conditions

Review every missed item, classifying each error as knowledge gap, misread, or reasoning error

Re-drill the two weakest domains identified by practice exam performance

Recite the core time targets, BP thresholds, and eligibility criteria from memory in a single rapid-fire pass