Randy Adams, a 38-year-old male patient of Dr. Joseph Reynolds, was admitted yesterday morning for 24-hour observation for a mild concussion sustained in a car accident. Randy had lost consciousness during the accident and was extremely disoriented when he arrived at the ER following EMS transport. He is an Iraq war veteran, and he appeared to believe that the accident occurred in Iraq. Dr. Reynolds is concerned that Randy is still suffering from the effects of a couple of explosive incidents that occurred while he was in Iraq. The doctor is unsure whether Randy’s current symptoms are the result of the car accident or of prior injuries, so he has referred him to both a neurologist and a behavioral health specialist for consultations.

Please discuss the following in light of the foregoing.

The pathophysiology of concussions and their treatment
In your current practice setting, do you use any neurological assessment tools? (if not presently working, please describe one used during prior employment or schooling)
Current best practices in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Nursing interventions that you would include in this patient’s care plan