title: Critical rehabilitation of the patient with spinal cord injury.
abstract: Most healthcare practitioners have worked with patients with spinal cord injury at some point in their career, for some it is a specialty. The critical care area usually only has patient with spinal cord injury for a brief time before they are transferred. More recently, there are longer intensive care unit stays due to multiple trauma and lack of insurance. Nurses must be cognizant of indications, contraindications, and best practice interventions to contribute positively to patient's long-term outcomes. As part of the multispecialty team, nurses can be pivotal in preventing secondary complications, especially pressure ulcers. Rehabilitation team members can be consulted early to provide expertise in managing this complex diagnostic group.
authors.affiliation: Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. fries.joyce@scrippshealth.org
authors.forename: Joyce M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fries
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001513:Beds; D019985:Benchmarking; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D007902:Length of Stay; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000451:nursing; D011187:Posture; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013997:Time Factors