Nursing Skills in Control and Coordination

Tina Moore,Sheila Cunningham

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781351065887
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Médecine
• Subtopic: Compétences dans les soins infirmiers

Looking at how a variety of biological systems control and coordinate all physical actions, this quick reference book covers the nervous system and neurological assessment, caring for the unconscious patient and dealing with pain. Suitable for student nurses and nursing associates, it is ideal for use in practice. This practical pocket guide covers:

• the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system

• neurological assessment

• caring for the unconscious patient

• pain assessment and management

• sleep.

This competency-based text covers relevant key concepts, anatomy and physiology, lifespan matters, assessment and nursing skills. To support your learning, it also includes learning outcomes, concept map summaries, activities, questions and scenarios with sample answers and critical reflection thinking points.

Quick and easy to reference, this short, clinically-focused guide is ideal for use on placements or for revision. It is suitable for pre-registration nurses, students on the nursing associate programme and newly qualified nurses.

CHAPTER 1
Overview of the nervous system functions

Sheila Cunningham

Overview

The control and coordination of the human body depends on many interacting systems and tissues. The key one is the nervous system which detects and responds to changes inside and outside the body. Together with the endocrine system, it monitors and regulates vital aspects of body functions and maintains homeostasis. Stable internal environments are important in health and disruption can be challenging and requires expert nursing and medical attention. The nervous system is also associated with higher order functions such as learning, thinking, decision-making and consciousness. It is therefore necessary to look at the fundamental structures and processes to explore how these develop and how we (including patients) make sense of the world.

Link to Future Nurse Proficiencies (NMC 2018)

Annexe A: Section 2: Procedures for the planning, provision and management of person-centred nursing care. Specifically, 2.1: share information and check understanding about the causes, implications and treatment of a range of common health conditions including anxiety, depression, memory loss, diabetes, dementia, respiratory disease, cardiac disease, neurological disease, cancer, skin problems, immune efficiencies, psychosis, stroke and arthritis.

Annexe B, Part 1: Specifically, 2.7: undertake a whole body systems assessment including respiratory, circulatory, neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and skin status and 2.12: undertake, respond to and interpret neurological observations and assessments.

Expected knowledge

• Terminology related to communicating the nervous system functions
• Fundamental differences between the central and peripheral nervous system
• Role of the nervous system in maintenance of homeostasis.

Introduction

Homeostasis is vital to human functioning as well as wellbeing and health. It is maintained through the coordinated actions of the nervous and endocrine systems in a dynamic and unceasing manner. As well as monitoring and responding to changes in the internal and external environment, the nervous system is also responsible for sensory perception, behaviour, memory and involuntary and voluntary movements. As such there are very few areas within nursing and health care where aspects of nervous functioning are not relevant. Developmental changes occur throughout the lifespan and thus the functioning is not static and improvements as well as deteriorations occur which the nurse ought to be aware of to support or care for people undergoing such changes. Fundamentally, it requires a depth of knowledge, not just of applications but also of the key structures and functions of the nervous system, to ensure a comprehensive knowledge and evidence base to inform decisions on care approaches.

The health care needs of patients within the hospital setting and the community are becoming increasingly complex. Several activities of daily living involve aspects of nervous functioning: sleep, breathing, elimination, movement, feeling safe and secure. Each has a sequence of actions and mechanisms to it and knowing the normal and detecting the abnormal are imperative to ensuring and maintaining these activities. Modern living is such that people are living longer with neurological issues and the capacity of the ne...