1. First Aid and Emergency Nursing (Theory)
University of Tabuk Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences Department of Nursing
First Aid and Emergency Nursing (Theory)
(NUR 410)

2. Curriculum & Course Development Committee
Topics Outline
Definition Seizures
Causes of Seizure
Information needed
Emergency care during and after Seizure
Status Epilepticus and Emergency Care
DEPARTMENT OF NURSING
Curriculum & Course Development Committee
Department of Nursing

3. Seizures
Sudden change in sensation, behavior, or movement caused by irregular electrical activity of the brain

4. Causes of Seizure Toxin (Including drugs and alcohol) Brain tumor
Congenital brain defects
Trauma- primary causes of brain damage and seizure activity in adults.
Infection/Fever
#1 cause in pediatric patients 6 months to 3 years old

5. Causes of Seizure Epilepsy Stroke Hypoglycemia
Eclampsia (complication of pregnancy)
Hypoxia
Unknown

6. Information to Obtain What was the patient doing before seizure?
What movements were exhibited?
Loss of bladder or bowel control?
What did the patient do after seizure?
Length of episode?

7. Emergency care during seizure
Place patient on floor
Position patient on side
Loosen restrictive clothing
Remove harmful objects
Protect patient from injury; do not hold patient still or place anything in mouth.

8. After seizure subsides:
protect airway with positioning and suction
If cyanotic, ventilate with oxygen
Treat injuries
Transport

9. Status Epilepticus
A life-threatening condition in which the patient has two or more convulsive seizures without regaining consciousness

10. Emergency Care Secure the airway Ventilate with 100% oxygen
Request ALS
Transport immediately

11. Question no. 1 Nursing Care During a Seizure include all, except
A. Ease the patient to the floor, if possible.
B. Restrain the patient during the seizure to prevent from falling
C. Protect the head with a pad to prevent injury.
D. Loosen constrictive clothing.
E. If the patient is in bed, remove pillows and raise side rails B
Department of Nursing
Department of Nursing

12. Electrolyte imbalance. Congenital defect. Epilepsy.
A 20-year-old who hit his head while playing football has a tonic-clonic seizure. Upon awakening from the seizure, the client asks the nurse, "What caused me to have a seizure? I've never had one before." Which cause should the nurse include in the response as a primary cause of tonic-clonic seizures in adults older than age 20?
Head trauma.
Electrolyte imbalance.
Congenital defect.
Epilepsy.
A. Trauma is one of the primary causes of brain damage and seizure activity in adults. Other common causes of seizure activity in adults include neoplasms, withdrawal from drugs and alcohol, and vascular disease. Given the history of head injury, electrolyte imbalance is not the cause of the seizure. There is no information to indicate that the seizure is related to a congenital defect. Epilepsy is usually diagnosed in younger clients.
Department of Nursing
Department of Nursing

13. References
Daniel Limmer ,Michael F. O’keefe. Emergency Care .12 th ed, Pearson Education, Inc., ISBN-10: X • ISBN-13:
•Kathleen Sanders Jordan, Emergency Nursing Core Curriculum,5 th ed, Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders company :A division of Harcourt Brace & company,2000.
Department of Nursing