Evaluation of a single seizure: guidelines for advance practice nurses

Deciding whether or not to treat a client after a single seizure can be challenging for the clinician. The risk of seizure recurrence is greatest in the first six months after the initial episode. The decision to treat a single seizure should be based on diagnostic and clinical findings that assess the client's risk for recurrence. When making treatment decisions, the clinician must consider the benefits and risks of single-seizure therapy. Careful consideration should be given to differential diagnosis, factors that induce symptomatic seizures and risk factors for epilepsy.