Dear Nurses

WHAT DOES IT MEAN ? NEUROLOGICAL VOCABULARY

Updated 8/26

Dear nurses,

Dearnurses.com is no longer available.
New information and links have been added below.

Basal skull fracture - What is it?

A basal skull fracture is usually diagnosed by CAT scan.
It is very difficult to see on X-Ray. The image below,
shows what the patient with a basal skull may look like.

Basal skull fracture

It is important to be able to identify the signs of a basal
skull fracture.The crack in the base of the skull may cause
CSF ( cerebrospinal fluid) to leak from the nose or ear.
A halo ring may appear on the pillow. Cranial nerves
may also be damaged.

For more helpful information, please click on the links:

Sessions 65 - Stroke or no Stroke
Stroke Assessment

Here are some examples of neurological vocabulary:

Q -What is the normal distance for testing visual acuity?

A- 14-20 feet away.

Q - What does stereognosis mean?

A- The ability to identify objects by touching.

Q - What part of the brain is responsible for balance
and coordination?

A- The cerebellum, which lies below the cerebrum.

Q- What does word salad mean?
A- A collection of words that have no real meaning.

Q- What is anisocoria?

A- Unequal pupils which occur in about 20% of the
population

Brudzinski's and Kernig's signs are seen in patients
who have Meningitis or Subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Brudzinski's sign -When the examiner flexes the patient's
neck, the knees and hips flex at the same time.

Kernig's sign - inability to straighten the leg when the

hip is flexed at a 90 degree angle. The hamstring muscles

become very stiff.

Medical abbreviations - Part 2

Learn more about : Stroke and ICP Monitoring

Here are some diagnostic tests that are done frequently.

Follow the links below:

1. Chest X ray
2. CAT scan
3. EKG
4. MRI scan
5. Ultrasound
6. Echocardiogram

BASAL SKULL FRACTURE

Updated 1/25

Dear nurses,
Dearnurses.com is no longer available.Learn more about
ICP monitoring by clicking on the link: ICP monitoring

Basal skull fractures are usually diagnosed by CAT scan.
They are difficult to see on X-Ray. The image above,
shows what the patient with a basal skull may look like.

It is important to be able to identify the signs of a basal
skull fracture.The crack in the base of the skull may cause
CSF ( cerebrospinal fluid) to leak from the nose or ear.
A halo ring may appear on the pillow. Cranial nerves
may also be damaged.

For more helpful information, please click on the links:

Sessions 65 - Stroke or no Stroke
Stroke Assessment

SIMPLIFYING BASAL SKULL FRACTURE

Basal skull fractures are usually diagnosed by CAT scan.
They are difficult to see on X-Ray. The image above,
shows what the patient with a basal skull may look like.

It is important to be able to identify the signs of a basal
skull fracture.The crack in the base of the skull may cause
CSF ( cerebrospinal fluid) to leak from the nose or ear.
A halo ring may appear on the pillow. Cranial nerves
may also be damaged.

For more helpful information, please click on the links:

Sessions 65 - Stroke or no Stroke
Stroke Assessment

and enjoy learning.

Updated 4 /23

Learn more about : Clinical judgement

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL NURSES - ENJOY LEARNING

Updated 9/25

Dear nurses,

New topics have been added, for your learning
pleasure.

The brain is protected by the skull.
Injury to the brain may result in swelling.
The skull is made of solid bone and the
brain has no room to expand when swelling
occurs.

ICP Monitoring is done to reduce swelling
and monitor brain pressures.The brain injured
patient is at risk for seizures. This should be
reflected in the plan of care.

Learn more, by watching the videos:

ICP monitoring
The brain injured patient

Learn more about : ARDS, DVT and PE

OVERVIEW OF CEREBRAL ANEURYSM

Updated 6/25

Learn more about :Subarachnoid hemorrhage

What is an aneurysm?
An aneurysm is a bulge or balloon in the wall of a blood vessel.
The majority of aortic aneurysms occur in the abdominal area,
but may also occur anywhere along the blood vessels that divide
after leaving the abdominal aorta.

For more helpful information , just click on the link:

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

The brain is protected by the skull. Injury to the brain may
result in swelling. The skull is made of solid bone and the
brain has no room to expand when swelling occurs.

ICP Monitoring is done to reduce swelling and monitor
brain pressures.The brain injured patient is at risk for
seizures. This should be reflected in the

plan of care. Learn more, by watching the videos:

ICP monitoring
The brain injured patient

.

ADDRESSING CEREBRAL ANEURYSM

Updated 8/23

Dear nurses,

Please click on the link below for updated information on this topic:

Subarachnoid hemorrhage and quiz

_____

The brain is protected by the skull. Injury to the brain may
result in swelling. The skull is made of solid bone and the
brain has no room to expand when swelling occurs.

ICP Monitoring is done to reduce swelling and monitor
brain pressures.The brain injured patient is at risk for
seizures. This should be reflected in the

plan of care. Learn more, by watching the videos:

ICP monitoring
The brain injured patient

Learn more about: Medical abbreviations - Part 2

.

SIMPLIFYING THE CRANIAL NERVES

Updated 1/26

Dear nurses,

Dearnurses.com is no longer available.

It is important to recognize that, following
a stroke or traumatic brain injury, a patient
may have damage to the cranial nerves.

Below, the cranial nerves are listed.

Additional topics of interest are also
addressed.

.

THE CRANIAL NERVES

Learn more about : Stroke Assessment

Learn more about : Sepsis

Learn more about: Basal skull fracture

CLINICAL SCENARIOS AND QUIZZES FOR NURSES

CLINICAL SCENARIOS AND QUIZZES FOR NURSES

Updated 6 /26

Dear nurses,
Dearnurses.com is no longer available.

A nurse whether experienced or new, may be presented
with an unfamiliar work situation.These clinical scenarios
are intended to help nurses expand their learning curve.

Here are some examples of situations a new nurse
might face:

- working in the ER and caring for someone
with a Le Forte fracture

- a new nurse sent to work in the ICU and has a
doctor's order to check Cranial nerves 3, 4 and 6

- a new nurse checking for a Halo ring after a basal
skull fracture

- the doctor orders a Magnesium drip a patient is
Many more topics and quizzes are included -
Maternal, Cardiac and hormones

Learn more about:
Dehydration on a long flight
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

A skiing accident and admission to ICU

In the image above, a skiing accident has occurred.
The injured person is admitted to the ICU. ICP
monitoring has been set up. Family members have
arrived and cannot make sense of what is happening.

The staff members have not taken the time to explain
what has taken place.

When taking care of a patient who has experienced
a traumatic event, the nurse should explain to the
family, what is being done. It may become necessary,
to get help from other staff members to help with
communication.