Why is this forum so dead?

I just accepted a job on a neuro floor and I can't wait to start. Hopefully this forum will boom . . .

if we start posting a little more we will get the feedback and the support of others. i wanted to see this forum get started because my facility is building a tbi unit and i was hired specifically for that unit. as a new grad i don't know squat about neuro and need the extra support. allnurses got me through ns and i am hoping that they can get me through the first couple of months of my new job!!

i am inspired now; going to start a new thread!

Hi All! I'm a new BSN (accelerated) and recently accepted a position in NeuroCCU at a Lvl 1 trauma center. I, too, am looking forward to the growth of the forum! Looking forward to new posts :)

Hey, I'm listening! I too have just been offered a place in the exciting Neuro world and we will help each other!

I have been on a Neuro floor for almost 3 months and I LOVE it!!! I love the patient population and all the interesting things I get to learn about each day. Its always something different that I get to research and study. On my floor we get a lot of the pre and post op brain tumor patients, including awake cranis, strokes and hemorrhages. I find it all very interesting, but I have always been a big neuro nerd =)

I am not a neuro nurse...but I stayed at a holiday inn last night sooo...

A few years back the husband of a friend of mine suffered a hypoxic injury to his brain. I had no access to his medical care or record because I was just the friend, not the nurse. After his acute care and rehab his wife remained very sad...she had lost her husband. She was not married to the same man....he looked the same, smelled the same, sounded the same...but was decidedly not the same. Before the accident he was outgoing, laughed a lot, loved big family gatherings, loved to sing, and was very physically amorous with her. After he was none of that...none. Quiet, reserved, passive, and uninterested in sex...a completely different man. I saw this type of thing, as well, with severe closed head injuries in teens while in the PICU. Upon recovery a significant personality change was evident in many, many cases. How do you address this in the neuro world? Do you have disciplines in place to help the families deal with these changes?

Regarding the patient with personality changes after injury...the question was is there a component of neurology to help the family deal with changes in their loved one. Gosh, I certainly hope so! These types of changes happen in many types of disorders:renal failure, cancer, alzheimer's, dementia--many chronic conditions. In Acute Care, here is the principle of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs that states that healthcare professionals must deal with the physical basic needs of the patient first, such as ABCs, nutrition, shelter (warmth etc) and can only address higher needs after the first level is attained. This also carries over into the beginning of Rehab as the patient may not be entirely stable. One striking aspect of, say, long term care, is the perceived absence of normal family life and relationships that people are used to. It might help to look up Maslow's Hierarchy to ground yourself in what's going on. For instance, if a child is lying in the street after being hit by a car and has a broken leg, you are not going to worry about whether he has fulfilling play relationships at first. So with someone who has lost the ability to engage in stimulating discussions, etc. I think this realization may help slightly in the long road to adjustment. Nurses, being compassionate, do consider the whole family as the patient, and try to help family members adjust and process feelings. Many hospitals have spiritual care or social service or group support to help. Self help groups are invaluable, as are internet blogs and support groups. Slowly, the spouse begins to participate in the small increments of improvement that can be attained. It is part of life's journey that makes you consider the meaning of basically everything and what you believe. My heartfelt empathy for this lady and her husband and best wishes for happiness goes out to you and all who are experiencing these problems.

Hi, i am currently a nursing student and am graduating my program this May ( Hopefully) i have a BS in Neuroscience and am extremely interested in working in a Neuro unit and going onto getting my NP to work in these units as well. My question is, i am not able to find any information about neuro nurse jobs. Many hospital websites have jobes posted for Med-surg, ICU,Cardic,ER but non that say Neuro. Can someone please help me and give me info on where or how to look for Neuro Nurse jobs specifiically! thanks alot...

I started as a new grad almost 3yrs ago and have been working in a Neuro special care unit since the very beginning... I'm new to allnurses.com though. Hope I can be somewhat helpful to all those newbies I see posting asking for support!