As stated in the November TBI tip, traumatic brain injuries can be mild, moderate or severe. Before you can understand the classification of a brain injury, it is important to understand the “rating” system called the Glasgow Coma Scale, otherwise referred to as GCS. This scale is a universally applied measure, indicating the severity of the brain injury. The “grade” is determined as early as at the scene of the injury, or in the Emergency Room . The GCS assigns a numerical value to patient reactions in three areas; eye opening, body movement, and speech. Each area is assigned a number and when added together, the Glasgow Coma Score for the patient is assigned. The ideal total score is 15. The severity of the injury is based on the score received. The Glasgow Coma Scale is as follows:
Eye Opening:
Opens eyes spontaneously: 4
Opens eyes to speech: 3
Opens eyes to pain: 2
Does not open eyes: 1
Body Movement:
Obeys simple commands: 6
Attempts to move from pain: 5
Withdraws from pain: 4
Moves muscles abnormally: 3
Moves muscles involuntarily: 2
Does not respond to pain: 1
Speech:
Speaks clearly and appropriately: 5
Converses with confusion: 4
Uses inappropriate words: 3
Makes incomprehensible sounds: 2
Makes no sounds: 1
After evaluation, the score for each area is added. The total score becomes a broad measure of how well a TBI victim will recover.
13-15 Mild Brain injury
9-12 Moderate Brain Injury
3-8 Severe Brain Injury
However, based on my personal experience with TBI victims, I have seen that predicting long term outcome can be “risky”. Patients have surprised medical personnel for many years. A high score doesn’t necessarily mean a favorable outcome and a low score doesn’t necessarily indicate a poor outcome. As you will often hear me say…THERE’S ALWAYS HOPE!
Dar Warner, L.P.N., C.B.I.S. can be reached at darwarner@dobsonhealthcare.com or by calling (866) 866-8984
Well folks, it’s that time of year again… I’m not referring to the holidays but cold and flu season. As you listen to the media, you will hear all about H1N1 virus, the bird flu or even mad cow disease but there are literally thousands of viruses out there ready to make you and your family sick. In my miniseries, I will highlight a few of these viruses and how you can protect yourself and your family.
Our virus of the month is Respiratory Syncytial Virus, commonly known as RSV. This virus is most common in the winter and early spring and can be highly contagious (spread easily from person to person). RSV can affect any age group but is most serious in young infants and children or adults with heart or breathing problems or those people who have depressed immune systems. Illness usually occurs within 5-8 days after a child is exposed to the secretions of an infected person. RSV is spread when the infected person coughs or sneezes, spreading the droplets into the air and onto surfaces.
For most children, RSV will simply seem like a “bad cold” with nasal congestion, runny nose and sore throat. The child may cough and sneeze. The infected child will probably have a low grade fever. Children may also have otitis media (an ear infection). For most children, who are healthy normally, the illness will run its course and they will feel better in 5-6 days after the first symptoms occur.
For very young infants ( newborn to 3 months) or children whose immune systems are depressed, the illness can progress to bronchitis, pneumonia or even in extreme cases respiratory arrest. Children may need to be hospitalized for oxygen therapy, IV fluids or treatment with a special aerosol medication.
Now that you know what RSV is, how do you prevent it? The number one preventative measure is to WASH YOUR HANDS! And teach your children to wash their hands too. Other methods to avoid getting sick are as follows;
- Avoid places where large number of people gather – shopping centers, social events at schools or churches or public buildings
- Teach your children to cover their cough/sneeze.
- Keep your children home from school or day care if they are sick
- Eat healthy balanced meals with plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Maintain your fluid intake
If you follow these easy guidelines, you will decrease your family’s chance of getting sick but remember, if in doubt, see your physician or go to an outpatient clinic. Only a healthcare provider can diagnose a serious illness.
Here’s to a healthy, happy winter season for you and your family!
Julie Hobgood, R.N. can be reached at juliehobgood@dobsonhealthcare.com or by calling 866-866-8984
Information on RSV was collected from Mosby’s Pediatric Nursing Reference 2nd Edition
Hi!
My name is Darling Warner and I am an LPN and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist. Nearly 10 years ago, I took a leap of faith and changed my “comfort zone” nursing career from a quiet, stable office nurse and took on a very challenging new career in nursing taking care of Traumatic Brain Injury victims. I have not had one nano-second of regret since making that move and as a result, TBI has become my passion with regard to my nursing career.
I would like to share with you a “TBI TIDBIT” monthly. I’ll try to keep it simple and yet informative. If ever you have a question or if you are a TBI survivor or family member that just needs someone to talk to, I’m a phone call away. I look forward to hearing from you about different topics you would like for me to cover. Sharing my passion for TBI care with you is the greatest gift I could give!
Let’s start with the definition of a Traumatic Brain Injury:
Also referred to as a TBI, it is an injury to the brain in which an external event or object, i.e. auto, motorcycle or snowmobile accident, gunshot wound, a fall or an assault, is the cause. The “blow” to the head causes the brain to “collide” with the inside of the skull, which is immovable, causing a disruption in the “electricity” that is transferred from the brain to the rest of the body. The injury can vary from mild, to moderate or severe, and the recovery of the patient varies based on the severity of the injury.
Please look for my next post coming Mid-December that will discuss in detail the different degrees of a Traumatic Brain Injury.
Darling Warner can be contacted at darlingwarner@dobsonhealthcare.com or by calling (866) 866-8984
On October 9th, 2010 Dobson was an exhibitor at the Spinal Cord Injury Symposium, sponsored by Mary Freebed Rehabilitation Hospital and held in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Dobson is proud to announce that we will be the lead sponsor for the luncheon at this year’s fall conference for the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners – Central Chapter. The fall conference will be held on Saturday, October 16th at the Comfort Inn & Conference Center in Mt. Pleasant, MI. Dobson will have a booth at the expo as well, and we encourage you to stop by and meet some of our wonderful staff that will be on hand that day to answer any questions you may have about the services we can provide throughout the state.
Attendees will be able to receive CEU’s for their attendance.
For more information on the event you can contact the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners at micnp@arounddetroit.biz
The Brain Injury Association of Michigan released this new data today. As many would have guessed, the number of individuals living with a brain injury in Michigan continues to increase.
A great time was had by all! Dobson Healthcare hosted The Bay City Chamber of Commerce “After Hours” in July at the Antique Toy & Firehouse Museum in Bay City, MI. Over 300 members of the business community attended the event which was catered by Krysiak’s of Bay City. Attendees were able to listen to the wonderful sounds of the Juice Roosters as they mingled with each other surrounded by other 50 antique fire trucks, as well as the museums extensive collection of antique toys.
Thank You to everyone who attended and made the event a huge success!
To find out more about the museum where Dobson held the Business After Hours check out their site: www.toyandfiretruckmuseum.org/
Dobson was a proud sponsor of the Main Entertainment Stage for the 37th Annual YWCA Riverside Art Festival, held in wonderful downtown Bay City, MI along the river this past weekend. This years festival featured over 100 artists from all over the state of Michigan and beyond. As a company that was founded by a female, we are proud to be a sponsor of several events throughout the year of our local YWCA.
For more information on the YWCA Of The Great Lakes Bay Region check out their webpage! www.ywca.org/baycounty
Congratulations!
The Art Stedry scholarships are awarded to active employees at Dobson who are completing their nursing degrees. Each recipient will be receiving a scholarship that will be given to their school on their behalf. Congratulations to the following employees who are receiving the 2009 Art Stedry Scholarship:
Corey M, HHA – Saginaw Valley State University
Nicole C, HHA – Saginaw Valley State University
In addition to the Art Stedry Scholarship program Dobson’s is proud to offer a tuition assistance
program to our employees working towards their nursing degrees.