Spinal Cord Injuries

Course overview

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), there are about 300,000 people living with a spinal cord injury in the U.S. (NSCISC, 2020). There are about 17,800 new cases of spinal cord injury each year (NDCIDC, 2020). Emergency responders and nurses are the first to encounter these patients in the moments after an injury. First responders, such as paramedics and emergency medical technicians, are responsible for extricating patients from the scene of an accident. Nurses in acute care settings, such as the emergency department (ED) and inpatient units, play a significant role in managing patients with spinal cord injuries. Healthcare workers must know how to properly care for patients with spinal cord injuries.