Traumatic Brain Injuries: An Overview

Course overview

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden trauma causes some level of injury to the brain. The leading cause of TBI in civilians is falls, which account for nearly 50% of TBI hospitalizations (CDC, 2021a). An estimated 1.5 million Americans sustain a TBI each year (CDC, 2021a). Unseen injuries after head trauma often pose the greatest threat. Any type of trauma to the head warrants urgency and concern. Nurses caring for patients with TBI should have a working knowledge of the signs and symptoms that accompany different injuries and what type of interventions to expect.