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Approximately 750,000 Americans are affected by stroke every year. Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and third leading cause of death. The number of people impacted is only expected to rise as the population ages. Evidence supports that clinical outcomes are better among patients cared for on a stroke unit versus general medicine floor. Outcomes demonstrate a decrease in mortality, a reduction in the number of patients discharged to extended care facilities and an increased number of patients discharged to home or inpatient rehabilitation centers. In order to improve outcomes, quality of care, to decrease complications and length of stay among acute ischemic stroke patients, an evidence-based plan of care was developed and implemented. The evidence-based plan of care was developed with multi-disciplinary input and initiated with the opening of a designated stroke unit. Education was provided to bedside staff during the implementation phase emphasizing the importance of consistent evidence-based care among this patient population. Results of this initiative demonstrate that acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to the stroke unit experienced a greater percentage of discharges to home or in-patient rehabilitation, lower complication rates and shorter lengths of stay. This demonstrates the importance of developing and implementing an evidence-based plan of care for stroke patients.