Advancing Excellence in Stroke Nursing and Building Bridges for International Collaboration — A Mid-Program Report on the Second Stroke Nursing Training Program of 2026

The second Stroke Nursing Training Program of 2026, jointly organized by the Tianjin University School of Stroke and Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, brings together nine international nursing professionals from four countries across Southeast Asia and Africa for a comprehensive four-week training program. Since its launch on May 18, the program has successfully completed two core modules: theoretical instruction in the first week and clinical practice in the second. With the curriculum progressing smoothly and achieving significant educational outcomes, the program has further strengthened professional exchanges and practical collaboration between Chinese and international nursing professionals.

Laying the Theoretical Foundations: Targeted Development of Core Competencies in Stroke Care

The first week focused on specialized theoretical instruction, with intensive classroom-based training conducted at the Tianjin University School of Stroke. The curriculum covered the full continuum of stroke nursing care, including emergency management of cerebrovascular diseases and fast-track stroke pathways, neurocritical care, interventional treatment and perioperative nursing, stroke prevention guidelines and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, early rehabilitation during the acute phase, infection prevention and control, and nursing research. Delivered by a multidisciplinary team of experts from the hospital and university, the courses emphasized both professional rigor and practical applicability. Theoretical instruction was complemented by on-site visits to the outpatient and emergency departments, the brain-computer interface ward, and the comprehensive emergency ward at the hospital's Tianta Campus, providing participants with an immersive learning experience that closely integrated classroom knowledge with real-world clinical practice.

Clinical Practice: Immersive Training to Enhance Specialist Nursing Skills

The second week marked the transition to clinical practice, with participants undertaking immersive, supervised clinical training at the hospital’s Tianta Campus. Rotating through the operating rooms, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Ward IV of the Department of Cerebrovascular Diseases, and the VIP Ward, participants received systematic training in comprehensive perioperative nursing care and the management of critically ill patients. They actively participated in clinical ward rounds, patient monitoring and assessment, nursing care coordination, and rehabilitation guidance, effectively translating theoretical knowledge into practical clinical skills.

During the training program, participants also visited Tianjin Medical University and Tianjin Medical College to broaden their perspectives on medical education and promote mutual learning and the exchange of nursing philosophies and practices between China and other countries. The hospital wards also organized traditional herbal sachet-making activities and cultural gift exchanges. Participants crafted their own traditional Chinese medicine herbal sachets, gaining firsthand experience of China's time-honored health and wellness traditions. Chinese and international faculty members and trainees exchanged culturally distinctive gifts and shared insights into their respective customs, traditions, and nursing cultures. These cultural exchanges helped strengthen mutual understanding and foster closer bonds, reflecting the warmth, friendship, and shared humanitarian spirit of healthcare professionals across borders.

To date, the training program has progressed smoothly, with all scheduled courses successfully delivered, consistently high teaching standards, and comprehensive logistical support, earning high levels of satisfaction among participants. Moving forward, clinical training at the hospital’s Jizhao Campus and additional cultural exchange activities will be carried out as planned. Through a high-quality curriculum and internationally oriented educational services, we will continue to strengthen the program’s reputation and establish it as a recognized international training platform for stroke nursing excellence.