title: Caring for Patients with traumatic brain injury: a survey of nurses' perceptions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine nurses' perceptions about caring for patients with traumatic brain injury.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Annually, it is estimated that over 10 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury around the world. Patients with traumatic brain injury and their families are often concerned with expectations about recovery and seek information from nurses. Nurses' perceptions of care might influence information provided to patients and families, particularly if inaccurate knowledge and perceptions are held. Thus, nurses must be knowledgeable about care of these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey, the Perceptions of Brain Injury Survey (PBIS), was completed electronically by 513 nurses between October and December 2014. Data were analysed with structural equation modelling, factor analysis, and pairwise comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using latent class analysis, authors were able to divide nurses into three homogeneous sub-groups based on perceived knowledge: low, moderate and high. Findings showed that nurses who care for patients with traumatic brain injury the most have the highest perceived confidence but the lowest perceived knowledge. Nurses also had significant variations in training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As there is limited literature on nurses' perceptions of caring for patients with traumatic brain injury, these findings have implications for training and educating nurses, including direction for development of nursing educational interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the incidence of traumatic brain injury is growing, it is imperative that nurses be knowledgeable about care of patients with these injuries. The traumatic brain injury PBIS can be used to determine inaccurate perceptions about caring for patients with traumatic brain injury before educating and training nurses.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Tolu O
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8821-4510
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Oyesanya
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Roger L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Lyn S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Turkstra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000451:nursing*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: latent class analysis; nursing attitudes; nursing care; nursing education; structural equation modelling; survey research; traumatic brain injuries