The Nervous System for Rehabilitation Nurses
Presented by Cheryl Lehman
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Rehabilitation nurses across the continuum of care will encounter patients with a variety of neurological conditions, both medical and surgical; congenital or related to epigenetic changes; lifestyle-related or traumatic in origin. It is important that rehabilitation nurses are knowledgeable about the anatomy and physiology related to their patients’ neurological conditions, that the nurses are comfortable and competent with neurological assessment; and that rehabilitation nurses know when to report assessment changes to the provider. This course will review neurological anatomy and physiology related to conditions frequently seen by the rehabilitation nurse. Physical assessment skills and parameters will be examined, and “when to report” will be stressed.
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Meet your instructor
Cheryl Lehman
Dr. Cheryl Lehman has been a registered nurse since graduating from the Decatur Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1978. Since that time, she earned a BSN from Maryville University-St. Louis in 1990; an MSN in Adult Health Nursing from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston in the Clinical Nurse…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. The Brain
This chapter reviews anatomy and physiology of the brain from neuron to lobe and beyond. The function of various regions of the brain will be reviewed. Changes related to congenital, medical, traumatic and surgical conditions will be stressed and key physical assessment techniques specific to the brain will be included.
2. Cranial Nerves
This chapter provides a review of the cranial nerves, with a focus on the function of each. Physical assessment techniques for each nerve will be reviewed.
3. Spinal Cord
As an extension of the brain and nervous system, the spinal cord has its own specific anatomy and physiology similar to but different from the brain. This chapter will review the anatomy and physiology of the spinal cord and the function of the spinal nerves. Changes related to congenital, medical, traumatic and surgical conditions will be stressed and key physical assessment techniques specific to the spinal cord will be included.
4. Peripheral Nervous System
Not to be forgotten, the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is an extension of the central nervous system. The PNS includes the spinal nerves (Chapter 3), the cranial nerves (Chapter 2), and the autonomic nervous system. This chapter will focus on the anatomy and physiology of the autonomic nervous system as it relates to two conditions commonly seen in the rehabilitation setting. Specifically, this chapter reviews ANS control of the male penile erection and voiding.
5. Putting it All Together
This chapter will present examples of the importance of nursing physical assessment of the nervous system related to its normal vs. altered anatomy and physiology through the use of case studies. Cases related to the brain and spinal cord will be presented with an emphasis on critically evaluating the selection of neurological tests to be performed depending upon the underlying pathology or potential complication.