Placement : II Years
Hours of Instruction
Theory – 150 Hours
Practical- 950 Hours
Total : 1100 Hours
Course DescriptionThis course is designed to assist students in developing expertise and indepth
knowledge in the field of neurology and neurosurgical Nursing. It will
help students to develop advanced skills for nursing intervention in caring
for patients with neurological and neurosurgical disorders. It will enable the
student to function as neuroscience nurse practitioner/ specialist. It will
further enable the student to function as educator, manager and researcher
in the field of neurology and neurosurgical Nursing.
Objectives
At the end of the course the students will be able to
1. Appreciate trends and issues related to neurology and neurosurgical
Nursing.
2. Review the anatomy and physiology of nervous system
3. Describe the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology and diagnostic
assessment of patients with neurological and neurosurgical disorders
4. Perform neurological assessment and assist in diagnostic procedures
5. Describe the concepts and principles of neuroscience nursing
6. Describe the various drugs used in neurosciences and nurses
responsibility
7. Assist in various therapeutic and surgical procedures in neuroscience
nursing
8. Demonstrate advance skills/competence in managing patients with
neurological and neurosurgical disorder following nursing process
approach
9. Identify psychosocial problems of patients with disabilities and assist
patients and their family to cope with emotional distress, spiritual,
grief and anxiety
10. Participate in preventive, promotive and rehabilitative services for
neurological and neurosurgical patients.
11. Explain the legal and ethical issues related to brain death, organ
transplantation and practice of neuroscience nursing
12. Incorporate evidence based nursing practice and identify the areas of
research in the field of neuroscience nursing
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13. Organise and conduct inservice education program for nursing
personnel.
14. Develop standards of care for quality assurance in neuroscience
nursing practice
15. Identify the sources of stress and manage burnout syndrome among
health care providers.
16. Teach and supervise nurses and allied health workers.
17. Plan and develop physical layout of neuro intensive care unit
Course Content
Unit Hours Content
I 5 Introduction
Introduction to neuroscience(neurological and neurosurgical)
nursing
• History-Development in neurological and neurosurgical
nursing, Service & education
• Emerging trends and issues in neurology and neuro surgery
and its implication to nursing.
• neurological and neurosurgical problems –
• Concepts, principles and nursing perspectives
• Ethical and legal issues
• Evidence based nursing and its application in neurological and
neurosurgical nursing
II 5 Epidemiology
Major health problems-
Risk factors associated with neurological conditions- Hereditary,
Psychosocial factors, smoking, alcoholism, dietary habits, cultural
and ethnic considerations, occupational and infections.
Health promotion, disease prevention, life style modification and
its implications to nursing
Alternate system of medicine/complementary therapies
III 10 Review of Anatomy and physiology
Embryology
Structure and functions of Nervous system- CNS, ANS, cereberal
circulation , cranial and spinal nerves and reflexes, motor and
sensory functions
Sensory organs
Unit Hours Content
IV 15 Assessment and diagnostic measures
Assessment
• History taking
• Physical assessment, psychosocial assessment
• Neurological assessments, Glasgow coma scale interpretation &
its relevance to nursing.
• Common assessment abnormalities
Diagnostic measures
• Cerebro spinal fluid analysis
• Radiological studies-Skull and spine X-ray Cerebral
Angiography, CT Scan, Single Photon Emission Computer
Tomography(SPECT), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging),
MRA, MRS, Functional MRI, Myelography, PET (Positron
Emission Test), Interventional radiology.
• Electorgraphic studies- Electro encephalo graphy, MEG, EMG,
video EEG,
• Nerve conduction studies-Evoked potentials, visual evoked
potentials, brain stem auditory evoked potentials,
somatosensory evoked potentials
• Ultrasound studies-Carotid duplex, transcranial Doppler
sonography,
• Immunological studies
• Biopsies – muscle, nerve and Brain.
Interpretation of diagnostic measures
Nurse’s role in diagnostic tests
V 5 Meeting Nutritional needs of neurological patients
Basic nutritional requirements
Metabolic changes following injury and starvation
Nutritional assessment
Common neurological problems that interfere with nutrition and
strategies for meeting their nutritional needs
Special metabolic and electrolyte imbalances
Chronic fatigue syndrome
VI
5 Drugs used in neurological and neurosurgical disorders
Classification
Indications, contraindications, actions and effects, toxic effects
Role of nurse
Unit Hours Content
VII 10 Traumatic conditions.
Causes, pathophysiology, Clinical types, Clinical features,
diagnosis, Prognosis, Management: medical, surgical and Nursing
management of
• Cranio cerebral injuries.
• Spinal & Spinal cord injuries.
• Peripheral nerve injuries.
• Unconsciousness
VIII 10 Cerebro vascular disorders.
Causes, pathophysiology, Clinical types, Clinical features,
diagnosis, Prognosis , Management: medical, surgical and Nursing
management of
• Stroke & arterio venous thrombosis.
• Haemorrhagic embolus.
• Cerebro vascular accidents.
• Intracranial aneurysm.
• Subarchnoid Haemorrhage.
• Arterio venous fistula.
• Brain tumours
Diseases of cranial nerves;Trigiminal neuralgia, Facial palsy,
Bulbar palsy.
IX 10 Degenerating and demyelinating disorders
Causes, pathophysiology, Clinical types, Clinical features,
diagnostic, Prognosis , Management: medical, surgical and
Nursing management of
• Motor neuron diseases.
• Movement disorders- Tics, dystonia, chorea, wilson’s disease,
essential tremors
• Dementia.
• Parkinson’s disease.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Alzemier’s
X 10 Neuro infections
Causes, pathophysiology, Clinical types, Clinical features,
diagnostic, Prognosis , Management: medical, surgical and
Nursing management of Neuro infections
• Meningitis-types
• Encephalitis.
• Poliomyelitis.
• Parasitic infections.
• Bacterial infections
• Neurosyphilis.
• HIV & AIDS.
• Brain abscess.
Unit Hours Content
XI 10 Paroxysmal disorders.
Causes, pathophysiology, Clinical types, Clinical features,
diagnosis, Prognosis , Management: medical, surgical and Nursing
management of
• Epilepsy and seizures.
• Status epilepticus.
• Syncope.
• Menier’s syndrome.
• Cephalgia.
XII 10 Developmental disorders.
Causes, pathophysiology, Clinical types, Clinical features,
diagnostic, Prognosis , Management: medical, surgical and
Nursing management of
• Hydrocephalus.
• Craniosynostosis.
• spina bifida- Meningocele, Meningomyelocele encephalocele
• syringomyelia.
• Cerebro vascular system anomalies.
• Cerebral palsies.
• Down’s syndrome
XIII 10 Neuro muscular disorders.
Causes, pathophysiology, Clinical types, Clinical features,
diagnostic, Prognosis , Management: medical, surgical and
Nursing management of
• Polyneuritis – G B Syndrome.
• Muscular dystrophy.
• Myasthenia gravis.
• Trigeminal neuralgia.
• Bell’s palsy.
• Menier’s disease
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Peripheral neuropathies
XIV 5 Neoplasms – surgical conditions.
Causes, pathophysiology, Clinical types, Clinical features,
diagnostic, Prognosis , Management: medical, surgical and
Nursing management of
• Space occupying lesions -types
• Common tumors of CNS,
XV 5 Other disorders
Causes, pathophysiology, Clinical types, Clinical features,
diagnostic, Prognosis , Management: medical, surgical and
Nursing management of
Metabolic disorders- diabetes, insipidus, metabolic
encephalopathy
Sleep disorders
Auto immune disorders- multiple sclerosis, inflammatory
myopathies
Unit Hours Content
XVI 10 Neuro emergencies
Causes, pathophysiology, Clinical types, Clinical features,
diagnostic, Prognosis , Management: medical, surgical and
Nursing management of
• Increased intracranial pressure
• Unconscious
• Herniation syndrome
• Seizures
• Severe head injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Cerebro vascular accidents
XVII 5 Rehabilitation.
Concept and Principles of Rehabilitation.
Factors affecting quality of life and coping
Rehabilitation in acute care setting, and following stroke, head
injury and degenerative disorders of brain
Physiotherapy.
Counselling
Care giver’s role
Speech & Language.-Neurogenic communication disorders, Speech
therapy
XVIII 5 Ethical and legal issues in neuroscience nursing
Brain death and organ transplantation
Euthanasia
Negligence and malpractice
Nosocomial infections
XIX 5 Quality assurance in neurolgical nursing practice
Role of advance practitioner in neurological nursing
Professional practice standards
Quality control in neurologic nursing
Nursing audit
Neuro ICU
• Philosophy, aims and objectives
• Policies, staffing pattern, design and physical plan of neuro ICU
• Team approach, functions
• Psychosocial aspects in relation to staff and clients of neuro
ICU,
• In-service education
Practical
Total = 960 Hours
1 Week = 30 Hours
S.No. AREA OF POSTING No. of Week Total Hours1 O.P.D. 2 60
2 Casualty 2 60
3 Diagnostics 2 60
4 Neuro psychiatry 1 30
5 Neuro Medical wards 4 120
6 Paediatric Neuro ward 2 60
7 Neuro surgical wards 4 120
8 Head Injury ward 3 90
9 ICU- neuro medicine 4 120
10 I.C.U.- neuro surgical 4 120
11 Rehabilitation 2 60
12 Operation Theatre 2 60
Total 32 Weeks 960 Hours
ESSENTIAL NEURO NURSING SKILLS
I. Procedures Observed
1. CT scan
2. MRI
3. PET
4. EEG
5. EMG
6. Sleep pattern studies/Therapy
7. Radiographical studies
8. Neuro surgeries
9. Nerve conduction studies
10. Ultrasound studies
11. Any other
II. Procedures Assisted
1. Advanced Cardiac life support
2. Lumbar Puncture
3. Biopsies – muscle, nerve and Brain
4. Arterial Blood Gas
5. ECG Recording
6. Blood transfusion
7. IV cannulation – open method
