Abstracts

Rationale: In the acute hospital setting, it is essential for bedside nurses to perform a systematic assessment of any possible seizure event. They also need to be proficient and precise with the characterization of the event for proper medical diagnostics and treatment. At our large academic medical center, there is a planned expansion of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) as well as significantly increased EEG monitoring capability in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Due to this expansion, the nurses will be exposed to greater numbers of patients having seizures. We wanted to assess the nurses basic knowledge of seizure semiology in order to plan educational opportunities that may be beneficial in the future months.Methods: We surveyed 15 registered nurses on the 3 neuroscience units (one ICU and 2 general neuroscience units, one which houses the EMU) in our large university affiliated medical center. Demographic data was obtained and 10 questions were asked regarding seizure identification and typical seizure semiology. Five questions were presented in a multiple choice format, and five questions were regarding videos showing patients having seizures. After the nurses had answered all the questions, the answers were explained as a brief educational intervention. Nurses were also asked pre and post intervention how they would rate their ability to identify seizures.Results: The registered nurses who worked on the floor with the EMU were the most knowledgable with seizure recognition, regardless of the years spent in nursing and regardless of the years spent in neuroscience nursing. The nurses who had the least amount of knowledge were the ICU nurses, while the nurses on the non-EMU floor were in the middle. Nurses in the ICU who had at least 5 years neuroscience nursing experience did better than those who had less than 5 years experience. Nurses with more experience performed the same as those with less experience on the non-EMU floor. All nurses rated themselves as better seizure identifiers pre-intervention than post-intervention. They explained this by stating that they were more aware of their deficits, but they now felt more confident having had the education. They all identified the need for more seizure education on an on-going basis.Conclusions: There is a clear need for even experienced neuroscience nurses to have continuing education regarding seizure identification. At an upcoming neuroscience nursing conference, we plan to do a similar survey before and after an hour long lecture about seizures and epilepsy. We also will plan to incorporate regular 'refresher' courses and increased education about seizures.