Abstract
Research about stroke is extensive. The experiences of the patients have mainly been studied from two aspects: to suffer from a stroke and to live with a stroke. This study is a project to secure the quality of care. The aim was to investigate what stroke patients have experienced during their time on a combined acute and rehabilitation stroke unit. It has a hermeneutical approach and uses qualitative analysis of contents to interpret interviews conducted with five patients.
In the results two main categories appear. The first is when a person suffers from a stroke it is experienced as a sudden change in that person's life, the person hopes that his/her strength will return and the person never thought that it could happen to them. The second being treated at a combined acute and rehabilitation stroke unit with the subcategories personable doctors, extraordinary nice nurses, the feeling of security while being at the unit, sometimes the feeling of slowness and boredom, excellent rehabilitation possibilities and the sharing of experiences with other patients.