Nursing management of cranial nerve dysfunction

Cranial nerve dysfunction is frequently seen in neuroscience patients. Deficits range in severity and can present many challenges for nurses. Patients are at risk for complications such as worsening vision, corneal damage, improper nutrition, aspiration and respiratory difficulty. With a proper understanding of how to manage these patients, nurses can perform interventions that will minimize complications and assure better outcomes for the patient. Multidisciplinary care is often needed for these patients but it is the nurse who is in a pivotal role to provide appropriate care, coordinate the multidisciplinary needs and offer patient and family education and support.