TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Course overview

This course presents an overview of TBI and describes essential patient care and management from the acute through the rehabilitation phase. It begins with a classification of brain injuries, including primary and secondary brain injury, focal injury, and diffuse injury. Signs and symptoms are described, and nurses will learn about the effect of injury to the brain¿s functional areas, including the lateral brain. Care of the patient with traumatic brain injury is described, including inpatient critical care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient rehabilitation and community care. The course closes with a discussion of the long-term complications of TBI, which can include seizures, chronic headaches, hydrocephalus, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, infections, vascular injuries, cranial nerve damage, and pain.