IntroductionThe purpose of this essay is to talk about Mary, a 75-year-old retired teacher with a history of obesity and hypertension, who suffered an ischemic stroke one month earlier. In line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2011) confidentiality guidelines, the service user's identity was kept anonymous by using the pseudonym 'Mary'. In relation to Mary, the author will discuss the risk and resilience factors associated with stroke, the impact of disease vulnerability, and the appropriate level of care that makes a difference to recovery. The World Health Organization (2013) explains that an ischemic stroke occurs due to the blockage of a blood vessel by a clot, which reduces the supply of oxygen to the brain and, therefore, damages the tissues. The rationale for selecting Mary for this discussion is; the author is keen to broaden her evidence-based knowledge of stroke as it is the leading cause of disability and third leading cause of mortality in the Scottish population (Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN), 2008) and, therefore, a national priority. In response to this priority, the Scottish Government (2009) produced its 'Action Plan for Better Care of Heart Disease and Stroke'. Furthermore, they have introduced a HEAT target to ensure that 90% of stroke patients are transferred to a specialist stroke unit on the day of admission to hospital (Scottish Government, 2012). Vulnerability, risk and resilience Lloyd and Heller (2012) discuss how vulnerability relates to people who for a period may need help from health and social services because they are unable to look after themselves physically, mentally and emotionally . Mary's post-stroke symptoms include right side... center of paper... susceptible to further risk; however, a person's resilience can influence how they cope with the vulnerable situation (Edward, 2013). Furthermore, the nurse's ability to provide excellent person-centered care, using appropriate interpersonal skills and showing compassion, can have an important impact on recovery (Dewar, Pullin, & Tocheris, 2011). This module allowed the author to understand the concept of Vulnerability, risk and resilience in relation to stroke. Therefore, it will contribute to his professional development and lifelong learning (NES, 2012). Additionally, the author has gained evidence-based knowledge of person-centered care, compassion, and self-awareness; all of which can be used to inform future practice (Miller, 2008). As a result, they will be able to provide the appropriate level of care that can make a difference to a person's recovery.