Nervous System
Nervous System Disorders
Head & Spinal Cord Injuries
Dementia & Related
Other
100

Basic working unit of the nervous sytem

Neuron

100
Categorized as primary or secondary; can cause severe pain and may disrupt daily activities

Headaches

primary: headaches that are NOT caused by an underlying condition

secondary: headaches that ARE caused by an underlying condition (ex: aneurysm, tumor)

100

Injury that occurs from a banging movement of the brain against the skull

concussion

100

ability to think clearly and logically

cognition

100

Type of therapy which allows residents/patients to believe they live in the past or in imaginary circumstances

Validation Therapy

200

Two main parts of the Nervous System

Peripheral & Central
200

Triggers of migraine headaches

stress

lack of sleep

eye strain

certain environmental factors

certain foods/beverages (chocolate, alcohol, caffeine)

200

1. Loss of function of the lower body and legs

2. Loss of function of the arms, trunk, and legs

3. the hgiher the injury (on the spinal cord), the _____ the loss of function

1. paraplegia

2. quadriplegia

3. greater


200

General term that refers to a more serious loss of mental abilities, such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating; NOT a normal part of aging

Dementia 

200

Involves encouraging residents/patients to remember and talk about past experiences

Reminiscence therapy

300
Makes up the central nervous system

brain & spinal cord

300

Two types of Cerebrovascular Accidents (CVA) and what differentiates them. Bonus - NA considerations for caring for patients who have experienced a cva

Ischemic stroke - blood supply is blocked (most common type of stroke)

Hemorrhagic stroke - leaking or rupture of blood vessel inside the brain

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) - brain loses a portion of blood supply; sudden, resolves quickly 

Bonus - assist with ambulation to prevent falls, mindful of defecits, place food on stronger side of mouth when feeding, encourage independence, go at that patient's pace

300

Involuntary muscle contractions that can involve a small area of the body or the entire body.

Bonus: when they recur frequently


seizures ; epilepsy (electrical signals within the brain are generated that cause these seizures)


300

The most common form of dementia

Alzheimer's Disease 

300

Method of treating mental health disorders that involves talking about one's problems with mental health professionals

psychotherapy 

400

Two main parts of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Somatic nervous system (SNS) & Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
400

Progressive disorder that causes a part of the brain to degenerate


Bonus: signs & symptoms

Parkinson's Disease 

(progressive meaning disease gets worse with time)

Bonus: mask-like face, pill rolling, shuffling gait, tremors

400

types of vision impairment

1. nearsightedness (myopia) - see objects that are ____ more clearly

2. farsightedness (hyperopia) - see objects that are ____ more clearly

3. Presbyopia - age-related condition in which eyes cannot focus clearly on objects that are near and close-up vision becomes blurry

4. cataract - develops when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy (first symptom - blurry vision)

5. Glaucoma - leading cause of blindness in the US; pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure) increases and causes damage to optic nerve

6. Age related macular degeneration - part of the retina that allows people to see detail - the macula - degenerates and central vision gradually destroyed

400

How many stages of Alzheimer's disease and what are they?

3 - mild (early), moderate (middle), severe (late)

(be familiar with signs and symptoms differentiating the phases)

400

type of psychotherapy often used to treat anxiety disorders and depression; usually short-term and focuses on skills and solutions that a person can use to modify negative thinking and behavior patterns

cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

500

Two main parts of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Bonus: which is responsible for fight or flight?

Parasympathetic nervous system & Sympathetic nervous system; sympathetic is fight or flight

500

Progressive nervous system disorder that affects the way impulses are transmitted to and from the brain.

Multiple sclerosis (MS)


A loss of myelin, the protective covering over the nerves and spinal cord. Without this covering, nerves cannot send clear messages to and from the brain in a normal way
500

1. infection in the middle ear with symptoms such as pain, pressure, fever, and reduced ability to hear & how is it treated?

2. disorder of the inner ear caused by a buildup of fluid with symptoms such as vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and pain/pressure & treatment?

1. Otitis media - antibiotics

2. Meniere's Disease - medications, salt restrictions, dietary changes, cognitive therapy, antibiotic/corticosteroid injections, surgery (extreme cases)

500

Term for when a resident with AD becomes restless and agitated in the late afternoon

Sundowning

500

A patient becomes verbally abusive and uses inappropriate language, what do you do?

Do not take it personally, try to redirect; be sure to report patient's changes in mood or concerns safety