Taking Care of Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries – One Hour CE
Patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI) are usually one the most complex patients for nurses. In the acute phase, they are completely immobilized and may even be on a ventilator for respiratory support. They are usually dependent on all aspects of care: nutrition, repositioning, perineal care, and hygiene. Their recovery also takes time, sometimes they are hospitalized for a few weeks, as acute symptoms usually take time to resolve. This course will review the major aspects of care relevant to patients
with SCI
Learning Objectives:
- Delineate complete versus incomplete spinal cord injury.
- Understanding the disability or loss of functional status is dependent on the level of the spinal cord injury.
- Discuss the usual medical complications of patients with spinal cord injuries.
- Discuss appropriate nursing interventions for patients with spinal cord injuries.
- Describe the condition called autonomic dysreflexia.