Evidence-Based Review: Nursing Care of Adults with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury-sTBI CPG Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar presents an evidence-based reference review of nursing care for adults hospitalized with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), defined as an initial Glasgow Coma Scale score below 8. Its central aim is to prevent secondary brain injury and support recovery across the care continuum.<br /><br />In prehospital and emergency settings, priorities include airway, breathing, circulation, cervical-spine protection, and repeated neurologic assessment. The speakers discuss motor GCS, the FOUR score, and automated pupillometry as assessment tools, while noting limitations and lack of consensus on routine use.<br /><br />In intensive care, nurses monitor neurologic status, vital signs, intracranial pressure (ICP), and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), while supporting appropriate positioning, safe cervical-collar use, low-stimulation environments, transport precautions, and infection prevention for external ventricular drains. Medication topics include seizure prophylaxis, sedation, hyperosmolar therapy, anticoagulant reversal, and venous thromboembolism prevention; steroids are discouraged.<br /><br />The review also addresses sleep, mental health, pain, nutrition, early rehabilitation, geriatric care, disorders of consciousness, and discharge planning. Protocolized, multidisciplinary care and family involvement can support better outcomes. The presenters emphasize that evidence for many nursing interventions—particularly mobility, behavioral care, and seizure management—remains limited, highlighting important opportunities for research.

Keywords

severe traumatic brain injury

nursing care

Glasgow Coma Scale

secondary brain injury

intracranial pressure

cerebral perfusion pressure

intensive care

neurologic assessment

multidisciplinary care