Brain Injury: Musculoskeletal Issues, Mobility & ADLs

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Outcomes for patients with brain injury vary widely, based on the severity of the insult. Many patients with brain injuries struggle with deficits in self-care and mobility, which can have a significant effect on their ability to be independent and potentially limit their quality of life. Nurses often partner with other disciplines within the interprofessional team to address these deficits and foster improved function. In this course, participants will learn how to use this knowledge to develop interventions that address these expected functional deficits in order to improve patient outcomes.

Meet your instructor

Anne Leclaire

Anne graduated with a Master of Science-Nursing from the University of Phoenix and has worked in the field of rehabilitation nursing for most of her career. She started as a staff nurse in inpatient rehabilitation at Weldon Center for Rehabilitation in Springfield, Massachusetts and then moved to Madison, Wisconsin, at…

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. Musculoskeletal Concerns

Musculoskeletal changes may occur as a result of brain injury. Rehabilitation nurses, in partnership with other members of the interprofessional team, should address these concerns early to minimize problems later in life and improve functional outcomes. This chapter promotes a multimodal treatment approach of medications, orthotics, and exercise to address these musculoskeletal concerns.

2. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

Individuals with moderate to severe brain injuries will likely have some functional deficits related to self-care. The ability to perform self-care is an important quality of life indicator. Rehabilitation nurses partner with other members of the interprofessional team to design a plan of care to address these needs throughout the day. This chapter will address the rehabilitation nurse’s role in promoting independence in bathing, dressing, grooming, feeding, and toileting.

3. Mobility

Individuals who sustain moderate to severe brain injuries will likely have some functional deficits related to mobility. Rehabilitation nurses partner with other members of the interprofessional team to design a plan of care to address these needs throughout the day. This chapter will address the rehabilitation nurse’s role in promoting bed mobility, transfers, wheelchair mobility, and ambulation.

More courses in this series

Brain Injury: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Etiology and Levels

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Brain Injury: Nutrition, Communication, and Elimination

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Brain Injury: Behavior and Safety

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