What environmental safety measures are required?
Side rails up, controlled noise level, access to oxygen/suction equipment, airway devices, padded rails, IV access.
What lifestyle modifications are recommended?
Regular sleep schedule, medication compliance, avoiding triggers, maintaining seizure diary, and having a safety plan for seizure occurrence.
Why do motor vs non-motor symptoms vary?
Symptoms depend on the seizure’s location in the brain.
What safety precautions would you implement?
Remove hazards, prevent falls, maintain airway, and provide constant supervision as patients may perform dangerous actions like walking into traffic.
What autonomic nervous system responses indicate anxiety/stress?
Cold/clammy hands, diaphoresis, agitation, trembling extremities.
What warning signs should families watch for?
Unusual behaviours, automatisms (repetitive, purposeless actions like lip smacking) , unresponsiveness to interaction, dreamlike state, and post-seizure confusion or fatigue.
Why can’t patients remember events during their seizures?
The impaired consciousness during the seizure prevents for formation of memories, resulting in complete amnesia of the event.
What occurs in the brain during these seizures?
Seizure activity begins in a specific region of the cortex, affecting the area’s function, and may remain focal or spread.
What key components should be included in the neurological assessment?
Deep tendon reflexes, bilateral upper/lower extremity sensory/motor testing, headaches, auras, visual changes.
What distinguishes focal impaired awareness seizures from other seizures?
Patients have a loss of consciousness/altered awareness and have no memory of the event.
What are priority nursing interventions post-ictally?
Monitor consciousness, provide a rest period, assess for injuries, reorient patient, and document duration & characteristics of seizure.