In this episode of Rapid Response RN, host Sarah Lorenzini is joined by Casey BSN, RN, CCRN-CMC, CFRN, CTRN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN, CNRN, NRP. And yes, you read her title right — Casey has a whopping eight certifications and is one of the few nurses with ALL five BCEN certifications. And she’s using her knowledge and skills to advocate for her patients and teach others.

Today, Casey tells the story of a patient who came into the ER after a fall and was later diagnosed with a basilar skull fracture. Complicating the case even more is that the patient was a child under the age of 2, so it was more difficult to assess the signs of his injury. Casey’s hospital provider dismissed the fall as normal childhood injury, but she did what any good nurse would do and followed her hunch that something more was going on.

Casey shares how the patient presented, how they arrived at the diagnosis and treated him. You’ll also learn the telltale signs and symptoms of basilar skull fracture, and how to check for signs of abuse if you see a pediatric head injury.

Tune in for a lesson in pediatric basilar skull fractures, and advocating for your intuition as a new nurse!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Casey’s nursing journey to earn so many certifications
• Why Casey’s patient came into the ER and how he presented
• What made her think something more was going on
• Results of the patient’s CT and their diagnosis
• Classic signs and symptoms of basilar skull fractures
• How to assess mental status in children
• Determining if injury is a sign of child abuse
• How they treated the patient for a basilar skull fracture
• What nurses need to prioritize when treating a basilar skull fracture

Connect with Casey:

https://www.instagram.com/criticalcarecasey/

Mentioned in this episode:

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Coming Soon! Rapid Response Academy: The Heart and Science of Caring for the Sick

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