Advanced Practice Nursing Guide to the Neurological Exam

by Alexandra Armitage MS, CNL, APRN

Overview

Today’s advanced practice registered nursing and physician assistant programs have been allocating less time to the study of neurology, leaving new practitioners with an uncertain grasp of how to approach the neurological patient. Here is a “how to” manual for knowledgeably conducting the basic neurological examination and confidently applying exam findings to the interpretation of common neurological symptoms. It explains all facets of the standard neuro exam that is conducted in clinical and hospital settings and includes an abundance of photos, illustrations, and useful algorithms. The book examines how to use the exam results to determine a likely diagnosis or to identify an area of concern for further diagnostic tests. The text presents both basic and advanced concepts related to the exam to foster a deeper understanding of the meaning and physiology underlying an abnormal finding.

Step by step, the text describes how to conduct the exam and provides photos, illustrations, and diagrammatic representations of examination steps and concepts. Algorithms bring a logical problem-solving approach to clinical thinking, and reference tables provide information at a glance for the busy practitioner. The book will be beneficial both for new practitioners who seek mastery of neurology fundamentals and a solid understanding of exam findings, as well as for those who have mastered the fundamentals and wish to gain more sophisticated diagnostic skills in order to accurately analyze the meaning of each symptom in the broader context of neurological practice.

Key Features:

• Presents a clear, step-by-step description of how to conduct a neurological examination and apply findings in the clinical setting
• Addresses the needs of both new and seasoned practitioners
• Provides a wealth of illustrations and diagrams to reinforce concepts
• Uses algorithms to enhance a logical problem-solving approach
• Includes quick reference tables for the busy practitioner

Alexandra Armitage, MS, APRN, CNL, is a clinical practitioner who has worked and taught in various clinical and educational neurological and neurosurgical settings. She received her BS from the University of Natal, South Africa, and her MS and post-master’s APRN certificate from the University of New Hampshire. She is currently working as a provider at Neurosurgery of Southern New Hampshire in Nashua, New Hampshire. She has given numerous neurology and neurosurgical lectures to both nursing and nurse practitioner students and is keenly interested in advancing the neurological knowledge of all nurses. In addition, she is the book reviewer for the New Hampshire Nurse’s Association. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau and the American Academy of Neurology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826126092
Publisher:	Springer Publishing Company
Publication date:	03/06/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	250
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Alexandra Armitage, MS, APRN, CNL, is a clinical nurse leader and board certified nurse practitioner who has worked and taught in numerous clinical and educational neurological and neurosurgical settings. She is currently working as a provider at the Plummer Movement Disorders Center, at Baylor Scott&White in Temple, Texas.

Table of Contents

"Contents

Preface

PART I. INTRODUCTION TO THE BASIC NEUROLOGICAL EXAM

1. History Taking

2. Mental Status Testing

3. Cranial Nerves I and II

4. Cranial Nerves III, IV, and VI

5. Cranial Nerves V, VII, and VIII

6. Cranial Nerves IX, X, XI, and XII

7. Testing Motor Strength

8. Testing Sensation

9. Testing Reflexes

10. Balance and Gait

11. Testing Coordination

12. Imaging and EMG Studies

PART II. COMMON NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS AND CONDITIONS PRESENTED IN PRIMARY CARE

13. Vertigo

14. Tremor

15. Low Back Pain

16. Peripheral Neuropathy

17. Weakness

18. Dementia

19. Diplopia

20. Gait Disturbance

21. Headache

Appendix: Useful Websites

Bibliography

Index

"