Joyce Campbell – Coma and Brain Death: Current Guidelines, Ethical Issues & Clinical Challenges

Course Description

Coma and Brain Death: Current Guidelines, Ethical Issues & Clinical Challenges – Joyce Campbell

Explaining brain death to family members can be very challenging.   There are the understandable emotional considerations that are critical for the initial grieving process.   We know it can be confusing for loved ones when they see the patient breathing and showing non-brain mediated movement.   Joyce Campbell, MSN, SCRN, CCRN, FNP-BC, a Neuroscience/Critical Care Clinical Expert, will provide the succinct information you need to more fully understand the testing associated with suspected brain death, how to assess for the myriad of clinical implications across the body systems and effective insights to address the moral distress that both families and staff experience.   Unforgettable case studies will be incorporated throughout the training.

1. Differentiate between the presentation of coma, vegetative state and minimally conscious state.
2. Examine the nursing and interprofessional roles in the determination of brain death.
3. Anticipate family member needs when their loved one is in a coma or brain death.

• Coma and Brain Death: Current Guidelines, Ethical Issues & Clinical Challenges
• Coma
  • Vegetative state
  • Minimally conscious
  • Akinetic mutism, abulia, catatonia
• Brain Death
  • Assessment
  • Clinical criteria
  • Diagnosing death
  • Challenges and controversies
  • Accepting brain death: The family’s needs