The middle cerebral artery (MCA) affects a lot of body functions. Here’s an RN to discuss what happens with left MCA strokes.
Neuro Nursing
Neuro nursing is a nursing specialty requiring a complex understanding of neurology, stroke processes, and subtle patient changes. If you're interested in being a neuro nurse or maybe just increasing your confidence in neuro nursing and stroke patient skills, we've got you covered.
Ready to master neuro nursing?
The Middle Cerebral Artery – Areas of the brain that supply the MCA
The middle cerebral artery (MCA) is an important part of brain function. An RN goes over the areas of the brain that supply the MCA and what can happen when it’s blocked.
MCA Stroke – What Can Go Wrong with the Middle Cerebral Artery
Wondering what the difference between a regular stroke and an MCA stroke is? Here an RN breaks down what an MCA stroke is and how it impacts patients.
Must-Know Tips For Neuro Nurse Checks
These are the most essential tips you need to know when you do your neuro nurse checks, all told from a nurse who has been there.
Neuro Nurse Assessment – Conscious Head to Toe
Learn how to do a complete neuro nurse assessment. This will teach you everything you need to know, even if you are a new nurse.
Neurological Exam: Level of Consciousness
Neurological Exam: Level of Consciousness. If you’re learning how to do neuro checks, one of the most challenging aspects can be distinguishing level of consciousness. Let’s go through each level of consciousness (LOC) that you’ll see and the main differences between them.
Neuro Assessment: How to Assess An Unconscious Neuro Patient Like a Neuro ICU Nurse
A neuro assessment is a critical skill for any nurse (not just neuro ICU nurses) This goes beyond simple neuro checks. If you’re interested in improving this nursing skill, this article is for yo
Why is My Stroke Patient NPO? What To Do & Why
If you ever receive a stroke patient and they are NPO, this is why that call was made and how you should handle it.
S5E41 – When Nurses Should Call the Rapid Response Team
Most hospitals have some form of Rapid Response Team that can be called when patients are becoming unstable to bring people and resources to the bedside quickly. In this episode, we discuss when to call a Rapid Response, what happens once one is called, and some of our own experiences calling or responding to them. Head to FreshRN.com/41 for the complete show notes of this episode.
Top Tips for New Neuro Nurses
Working in intensive care is so different from the rest of the hospital. These tips for new neuro nurses will answer all questions.
Neuro ICU Nurse – What You Need To Know
A neuro ICU nurse works with patients in critical care and experience a lot of death and dying. This job is not easy and it requires emotional strength.
S4E34: Nursing Considerations with Brain Death
We discuss the difference between coma and brain death, how brain death is determined, working with an organ procurement team, and general insights related to this sensitive topic.
S4E39: Talking to Unconscious Patients
Elizabeth Mills, BSN RN CCRN – highly experienced neurocritical care nurse, current Stroke Navigator for a Primary Stroke Center What You’ll Learn Patient Care Family support Consents Talking to Unconscious Patients Key Focus: Effective communication skills for interacting with the unconscious patient and their family. Think about these: How does caring for a patient who […]
S2E15: Neuro Nurse Tips for Newbies Part III: Meds, Diagnostics, Monitoring, and Surgeries
What You’ll Learn Medications Diagnostics Surgeries and Procedures Monitoring Encouragement We continue our journey through neurocritical care nursing! Medications tPA – discussed in Neuro Nurse Tips, Part I Mannitol – osmotic diuretic, given to decrease ICP Increasing the plasma osmolality to pull fluid off of the brain, into the intravascular space, and out of the […]
S2E21: Code STEMI, Code Stroke, and Code Sepsis
In this episode, we discuss nursing care and the big three – Code STEMI, Code Stroke, and Code Sepsis. Please note, this episode was recorded in January 2017, and the latest evidence at that time. The best practices surrounding treatment of these evolve continually and we encourage you to ensure you’re referring to the latest evidence and facility policy while providing patient care.
S2E14: Neuro ICU Nurse Tips for Newbies, Part 2: Disease Processes
What You’ll Learn: Subdural hematoma Epidural hematoma Seizure Brain Tumors CPM Diffuse axonal injury This episode discusses a few disease processes that are typically seen by the neuro ICU nurse as well as a neuro floor. We chat about subdural hematomas, epidural hematomas, seizures, brain tumors, and diffuse axonal injury. And as always, this episode is hosted […]
S2E13: Neuro Nurse Tips for Newbies, Part 1: When to Worry, Disease Processes
This episode discusses neuro nurse tips with the main questions newbies to neuro have: if neuro changes are subtle, when do I worry? We also discuss common neuro disease processes including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, and more.
Nursing Considerations for 3 Neuro ICU Meds
This is some quick info on a few very common meds you run into in the neurointensive care unit. However, please always follow your hospital’s policies and procedures. This is for informational purposes only and focuses on nursing considerations.. not going in-depth on the drug. Nursing Considerations for 4 Neuro ICU Meds Propofol or Diprivan […]
Noticing Subtle Neuro Changes for Nurses
Neuro changes are tough! It is really hard to know if someone is truly changing or if they’re just exhausted because we keep waking them up. Here are some of my neuro nurse tips.. Neuro nurse tips for newbies If your patient is in the intensive care unit, intubated and sedated on propofol, and you […]
Nursing Priorities for Ischemic Stroke Patients – From a Neuro Nurse
What are the most important nursing priorities for stroke patients? Oh, these are so important! I love my stroke patients. They have a special place in my heart. As a neuro nurse, I wanted to share what you should do if you encounter a patient having an ischemic stroke. These are the most important nursing […]