Strategies nurses use when caring for patients with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury who have cognitive impairments.
Tolu O Oyesanya, Mitchell A Thomas
PMID 31190340WHAT IT FOUND
Nurses most frequently described cognitive supports like repetition and visual cues, followed by communication adjustments and safety precautions.
Far fewer reported strategies for managing agitation or education. No assessment tools for communication were described.
Key findings
01Cognitive techniques were the most common strategy, with more than 40% of nurses describing methods to address memory, attention, and executive function.
02Approximately 37% of nurses described communication techniques, such as repeating information, using lay terms, and asking patients to restate instructions.
03Only about 13% of nurses described strategies for managing agitation and behavior, and nurses did not describe using specific communication assessment tools.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study reports what nurses said they would do, not what they actually did or whether the strategies were effective. The response rate was 17.7%, so the results may not represent all nurses. Nurses did not specify if their strategies were for acute or chronic care phases. The sample was limited to three hospitals in the Midwest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these strategies are effective. The study reports nurses' typical practices, not evidence that these methods improve patient outcomes.