Syllabus Modules Instructors

Head and Spinal Cord Injury

Please note, I have released the videos and slides for the ICP and head injury components; the SCI slides and videos will be released later this week.

At the completion of this class the student will be able to:

Compare and contrast the etiology, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment between various neurologic events including location and mechanism of injury.
Describe the precipitating factors of increased ICP.
Identify the earliest signs of increased ICP and the nursing interventions used for treatment.
Identify differing methods used to monitor intracranial pressure (ICP) and recognize complications associated with ICP monitoring.
Describe secondary head injury complications and necessary treatments such as SIADH and DI.
Describe brain death, defining tests, and necessary patient and family centered interventions.
Describe, compare, and contrast neurogenic and spinal shock related to causation, presentation, and treatment.
Identify the type of injury and clinical effects associated with each of the following incomplete spinal cord syndromes: central cord, anterior cord, Brown-Sequard, and posterior cord.
Describe the level at which each of the following functions are affected by a spinal cord injury: respiratory, cardiovascular, urinary control, bowel control and gastrointestinal.
Identify how immobilization and turning are carried out for a patient with a cervical spine injury.

Required Readings:

Lewis version 10: 1314-1333 (stop at brain tumor), 1590, 1419-1436;

Lewis Version 11: 1300- 1318, 1403-1421, 1568

Strongly Suggested Readings:

High-Acuity Nursing, 7th Edition Chapters 16, 19, and 20-- do the associated NCLEX style questions for these chapters.

Terminology to Learn:

Cerebral blood flow
Intracranial pressure
Brainstem
Brain herniation
Intraventricular catheter
Monro-Kellie hypothesis
Foramen of Monroe
Compliance
Herniation
Decerebrate/Decorticate posturing
Subarachnoid screw/bolt
Cerebral spinal fluid
Autoregulation
Autonomic dysreflexia

Calculate: CPP, MAP