PEDIATRIC TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
Michail Kokolakis, Ioannis Koutelekos
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Publication year:
2016
Authors:
- Kokolakis Michail, BScN, Neurosciences, King’s College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust U.K.
- Koutelekos Ioannis, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Nursing A',Technological Educational Institute of Athens
Keywords index:
Pages: 130-153
Abstract:
Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of serious harm and death in children under the age of 15. The injury affects not only the patient, but also impacts heavily on close relatives. Caring for victims with traumatic brain injury is perhaps the most difficult of many professional challenges for nursing staff, requiring both technical and skills and sensitivity to the needs of the relatives. The aim of this study was to present a review of recent publications specifically addressing nursing intervention in the care of children with traumatic brain injury. Methodology : The approach to this article focus on research and review of studies between 2008–2016, from the online sources of Pubmed/Medline, Elsevier, Saunders Medical Center, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, New England Journal of Medicine, The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation and the Journal of Neuroscience. The literature featured in this article refers to nursing intervention in cases of children with traumatic brain injury, identified through key words such as: nursing intervention in neurosurgery, nursing intervention in children with cranial trauma, head injuries and nursing care. Results: The most recent studies emphasize that nursing interventions in the case of children who have sustained traumatic brain injury should be provided by specially trained persons who have acquired the skills and knowledge within this particular area. Essential to successful outcomes of nursing interventions are frequent training and tutoring sessions where the nurse, in conjunction with the physician, will be able to find, understand and apply scientifically competent solutions to meet the exact needs of the case. The role of the nurse should follow a personalized plan clearly defined as part of the total care and welfare of the patient. Conclusions : Nursing interventions for the care of victims with traumatic brain injury include improvement of the neurological status and achieving a better outcome. However, there are few researched facts in the literature that document the detail of the nursing interventions performed. This suggests that further studies of the nature of the nursing interventions are necessary.
Download PDF
