Management of Head Injuries
The care of a client with a head injury includes both
therapeutic management and nursing management.
• Therapeutic Management
• Most children who have had a head injury but have
not lost consciousness can be cared for and
observed at home.
• Health care providers should use evidence-based
guidelines such as the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention’s (2021) Pediatric Mild Traumatic
Brain Injury Guidelines to support treatment
decisions.
• Children with severe injuries who have lost
consciousness for more than a few minutes or have
complications will be hospitalized until stable.
• Parents should be provided with verbal and written
instructions of signs and symptoms that warrant concern
and the need for reevaluation.
• Medical attention should be sought for:
• persistent or worsening headaches
• vomiting
• change in mental status or behavior
• unsteady gait
• seizure
• loss of consciousness
• Outcomes after head injuries depend on the extent of
injury and complications, but can result in significant
impairment.
• Deficits may not appear until the child is older, but can
include epilepsy, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder,
and learning or psychiatric disorders.
• Nursing Management
• Maintain adequate ventilation, oxygenation, and circulation.
• Perform frequent neurological assessments to
identify indications of increased intracranial
pressure.
• Implement measures to reduce intracranial pressure
This study source was downloaded by 100000897367967 from CourseHero.com on 12-10-2025 08:57:22 GMT -06:00
such as ensuring bed rest and slightly elevating head
https://www.coursehero.com/file/252998512/NR-328-Week-6-Edapt-Management-of-Head-Injuriesdocx/
, of the bed.
This study source was downloaded by 100000897367967 from CourseHero.com on 12-10-2025 08:57:22 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/252998512/NR-328-Week-6-Edapt-Management-of-Head-Injuriesdocx/
The care of a client with a head injury includes both
therapeutic management and nursing management.
• Therapeutic Management
• Most children who have had a head injury but have
not lost consciousness can be cared for and
observed at home.
• Health care providers should use evidence-based
guidelines such as the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention’s (2021) Pediatric Mild Traumatic
Brain Injury Guidelines to support treatment
decisions.
• Children with severe injuries who have lost
consciousness for more than a few minutes or have
complications will be hospitalized until stable.
• Parents should be provided with verbal and written
instructions of signs and symptoms that warrant concern
and the need for reevaluation.
• Medical attention should be sought for:
• persistent or worsening headaches
• vomiting
• change in mental status or behavior
• unsteady gait
• seizure
• loss of consciousness
• Outcomes after head injuries depend on the extent of
injury and complications, but can result in significant
impairment.
• Deficits may not appear until the child is older, but can
include epilepsy, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder,
and learning or psychiatric disorders.
• Nursing Management
• Maintain adequate ventilation, oxygenation, and circulation.
• Perform frequent neurological assessments to
identify indications of increased intracranial
pressure.
• Implement measures to reduce intracranial pressure
This study source was downloaded by 100000897367967 from CourseHero.com on 12-10-2025 08:57:22 GMT -06:00
such as ensuring bed rest and slightly elevating head
https://www.coursehero.com/file/252998512/NR-328-Week-6-Edapt-Management-of-Head-Injuriesdocx/
, of the bed.
This study source was downloaded by 100000897367967 from CourseHero.com on 12-10-2025 08:57:22 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/252998512/NR-328-Week-6-Edapt-Management-of-Head-Injuriesdocx/
