Are you looking for a nursing
career challenge in neurology?
Neurological nursing presents a
unique challenge for registered nurses, because the field of neurology is broad
in perspective. Its horizons are expanding rapidly, as there is extensive
research being done, in many areas.
A student seeking a career in
nursing may ask, "What is neurological nursing? What does it entail?
Neurological nursing is complex
in its scope. The word neurology is derived
from the word neuron, which means nerve. Neurology is a highly specialized
medical field that deals with the entire nervous system, including the central,
peripheral and autonomic nervous systems. There are a broad range of
neurological diseases and other neurological conditions that affect adults,
teenagers and children and thus, neurology nurses are needed to care for people
of all ages, in many different nursing care environments.
Neurology nursing can be a
demanding occupation for registered nurses, but it is a realm of inquiry that
is interesting, exciting and rewarding to pursue. It does require a high degree
of dedication, advanced nursing skills and patience, on the part of the
neurological nurse.
Why is that?
The answer to that question has
to do with the nature and extent of neurological diseases. Any part of the
brain or spinal cord may be affected by various kinds of neurological diseases,
as well as the nerves, muscles and blood vessels associated with them.
Neurological diseases affect the entire body. Neurology includes a broad
range of medical conditions that involve the brain and spinal cord, as well as
areas of the body influenced by the nerves and the nervous system. This can
include medical problems like epilepsy, strokes, sleep disorders, headaches or
tumors of various kinds. It also includes problems associated with infections,
immunological and hereditary diseases. Anything that affects the
nervous system can cause a patient to need neurology nursing care, at that time
or later on in his or her life.
A neurological nurse plays an
important role in patient assessment, which leads to the diagnosis and
treatment of various kinds of neurological conditions.
Accurate and consistent
recording of neurological observations is essential to establish the patient's
neurological status and to illustrate any changes. (1)
Patient assessment by
neurological nurses includes assessing his or her level of consciousness,
papillary reaction, motor function and vital signs. These are monitored in
order to determine the extent of neurological damage, impairment, improvement
or degeneration of the nervous system and other parts of the body.
Working on a neurology (or a
surgical-neurology) ward, a registered nurse has a wide variety of nursing care
responsibilities, which may include administering medications, tracheotomy and
tracheostomy care, intravenous therapy, skin care, tube feedings and
catheterization, as well as other, more highly specialized treatments and
procedures for individual patients.
Neurological nursing care may
be needed following accidents, where there are head or spinal cord injuries.
When patients are injured in vehicle, motorcycle or boating accidents, they may
wind up in comas and require long-term medical-neurological and surgical-neurological
nursing care. Extended or long-term neurological care includes counseling,
teaching, re-training and rehabilitation. For many injured, it is a long road
back. Family members may participate in different aspects of neurological care.
Neurological nurses trained in
pediatrics, may be interested in pursuing pediatric neurology, with regard to
nursing infants or children, who have suffered birth or childhood trauma
injuries, early childhood illnesses, meningitis or encephalitis, as well as
genetic, birth defects.
Neurological nurses are needed
in private homes, long-term nursing care homes or rehabilitation centers, where
patients are hospitalized with neurological problems related to degenerative
diseases like Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, Alzheimer's disease or
Huntington's chorea.
Neurology nurses may request to
work in specialized areas for brain or spinal cord injuries, defects or tumors.
It may be possible to obtain employment in ongoing neurological
research related to these areas.
Because the range of
neurological problems is so vast, those who would like to become neurological
nurses need to have basic training in medical-surgical nursing, first. There are
many career options that they can pursue with respect to neurological nursing.
Numerous courses for specialization in neurological nursing are offered at
college and university nursing schools. Online research will show other, more
highly specialized courses, for neurological nurse practitioners or
neurological nurse clinicians.
For a student considering
becoming a neurological nurse, the majority of hospitals, nursing homes and
community agencies offer volunteer work with patients, who have various kinds
of neurological problems, like cerebral palsy. Spending time with a patient who
has multiple sclerosis, a child confined to a wheelchair because of a spina
bifida or an elderly person with a brain tumor, will give a prospective student
nurse a glimpse into the kind of nursing care required in neurology.
Many registered nurses love
this kind of work, as it involves total patient care related to the body, soul,
mind and spirit of their patients. This type of nursing requires a nurse who is
gentle, loving and kind.
For registered nurses looking
for a challenge, expect to find one in the realm of neurological nursing!
(1)
http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice-clinical-research/neurological-observations/205473.article
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