Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena
| Thesis Title | Nursing care of patients with coma and with disorders of consciousness following coma: two case reports |
|---|---|
| Name | Boresi Martina |
| Supervisor(s) | Nichelli Paolo Frigio, Soli Giulia |
| Academic Year | 2020/21 |
| Thesis type | Non research thesis |
Abstract
This thesis, using two clinical cases, analyzes the evolution of nursing care of patients with coma and with disorders of consciousness that can follow. After the coma, neurorehabilitation with accurate and repeated evaluation by health professionals can possibly highlight elements of conscious behavior, directing care accordingly. In coma, the priority is to restore and maintain the stability of vital organs, through continuous monitoring of physiological parameters. Hence, the caregiver remains on the sidelines despite being followed and helped anyway. Awakening from a coma does not necessarily imply an immediate recovery of consciousness. Often the patient may be in a Vegetative State. In this case, the role of the nurse and of the other specialists is to understand whether the patient’s behaviors are only reflexive, or they reveal voluntary responses, to be enhanced through stimulation and rehabilitation. If the patient turns towards a Minimally Conscious State, the assistance will change, and the nurse should also assist the family member in a training course aimed at fully assuming the role of caregiver.