7 Essential Strategies for Mastering Nursing Headache Management at StudyCreek.com

7 key steps to mastering nursing headache management in StudyCreek.com.
Find evidence-based evaluation, treatment guidelines, and patient education models of primary care nursing practice at StudyCreek.com.

Based on the number of complaints reported in the primary care setting, headache disorders are considered as one of the most frequent complaints reported in the setting. Nursing headache management is a competency of utmost importance to advanced practice nurses and nurse practitioners. Treatment and assessment of headaches need to be effectively evaluated and treated by using extensive clinical expertise, evidence, and patient-focused care strategies that will not only treat the acute symptoms but also help prevent the condition in the long term.

Learning about the Nursing headache management.

The nursing treatment of headaches starts with proper evaluation of the patient. Nurses need to distinguish between a primary disorder of headaches, such as migraine, tension-type headache, cluster headache, and secondary disorders, which can be a sign of serious underlying diseases. A descriptive past that includes the nature of pain, the duration of the pain, how often the pain occurs, the symptoms that come with it, and the causes of the outbreak enables the correct diagnosis and treatment regimen.

Advanced practice nurses make significant contribution in prescribing the right pharmacological interventions. This involves the choice of first-line abortive drugs like triptans in migraines, the suggestion of preventive treatment like beta-blockers or tricyclic antidepressants, and informing the patients of the appropriate timing and dosage of medicine. Learning about contraindications and possible drug interaction is the key to safe prescriptions.

Evidence-Based Treatment Guidelines.

Effective nursing care in managing headache incorporates the pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures. The nurses are expected to advise patients about lifestyle changes such as stress management practices, sleeping habits, proper hydration, and avoiding dietary triggers. Resource sites such as WorkVix.com provide very good continuing education to nurses who are willing to improve their clinical knowledge.
Effective treatment of headache is based on patient education. Nurses have to educate patients on the chronicity of the headache disorders, realistic treatment expectations, and empower patients to be active participants in their treatment by maintaining a headache diary and identifying the triggers.

Developing Your Clinical Competencies.

StudyCreek.com is a good source of evidence-based guidelines, case studies, and professional development resources to all nurses who want to understand the complete information about managing headaches in nursing. The site provides specific treatment plans that are in line with the present recommendations by the American Headache Society and the best practices in neurology.

Awareness of medication overuse headache, the reasons behind referral to specialists, and policies to follow are other competencies that can make the difference between a great and a bad nursing headache management. Nurses can also make a significant contribution to positive results among the patients with the debilitating forms of headache disorders by integrating the abilities of clinical assessment with compassionate patient-centered care.
Continued professional growth makes nurses abreast with new treatments and evidence-based practices in this dynamic field of specialization.

SAMPLE QUESTION

Management of Headaches

Instructions:

For each scenario, please provide the following:

• Identify the type of headache
• Write your specific prescription(s) for the patient. (This must include the medication name, dose, route, and frequency as well as any special instructions that apply as you would include when writing a prescription).
• Provide a rationale for your treatment plan.
• Describe the patient education you would provide in relation to your treatment plan.
• Support your plan and education for each scenario with a minimum of two scholarly references.

Scenario 1:

Ms. Jane Carter is a 28-year-old female who presents for evaluation of headaches.  She is slightly pale and appears sensitive to the bright lights in the consultation room on exam.  She reports “I’ve been getting these really bad headaches, and they are making it difficult to complete by work.”

Ms. Carter reports  experiencing headaches intermittent since she was a teenager, but they are more frequent in the last six months.  She is experiencing 4 to 5 headaches a month that are lasting from 24 to 48 hours each.  The headaches are generally on the right side of her head and feel like a severe throbbing sensation which she rates as 8 out of 10 pain.

She occasional has nausea and notices she is too sensitive to light and noise to continue to work.  She states her visions seems odd and she will sometimes see zigzag lines in her vision for about 30 minutes before the headaches begin.  She has tried Tylenol, ibuprofen and Excedrin over the counter without adequate relief.  She is not currently taking any other medications.

Scenario 2:

Ms. Emily Parker is a 38-year-old female who presents for evaluation of recurring headaches.  Ms. Parker appears alert but mildly fatigues and reports “I’ve been getting dull headaches almost every day which are very annoying.”

Ms. Parker has a history of mild to moderate headaches for the past six months that occur on four to 5 days per week and typically last for three to four hours.  She describes the headaches as bilateral and starting at the back of the head, radiating to the forehead.

The headaches are a dull, pressing headache with a sensation of something tightening around her head that she rates as a 5 out of 10 pain.  She has tried acetaminophen over the counter when they come on, but this doesn’t seem to help.  She does usually feel better if she can rest in a quiet room for an hour, but her job does not always allow her to do this.

Scenario 3:

Mr. James Thompson is a 46-year-old male who presents for evaluation of headaches.  He reports “I’ve been having chronic difficulty with headache, and they seem to be getting worse.”

Mr. Thompson has a past medical history of hypertension and a myocardial infarction at the age of 29.  He is currently taking losartan 50mg daily, verapamil SR 100mg daily, Carvedilol 25mg twice daily, Atorvastatin 40mg at bedtime and topiramate 50mg twice daily.

Mr. Thompson reports a history of headaches past 20 years and a previous diagnosis of migraines.  He is currently taking topiramate 50mg twice daily for headache prevention, but reports that in the last four months the headaches have increased in frequency to four to five headaches per month and he has been taking Excedrin migraine OTC without relief.  The headaches are described as a painful throbbing and pressure over the left temple and he rates them at a 9 out of 10 pain.  The headaches tend to last for 12 to 24 hours at a time. His neurologic exam in the office is normal today.

Scenario 4:

 Mr. Michael Davis is a 41-year-old male who presents to the clinic for evaluation of severe headaches.  Mr. Davis appears distressed and exhausted and he is pacing in the exam room and occasionally rubbing his right temple.  He reports “I’ve been having these horrible headaches on and off for the past few weeks.  The come out of nowhere and feel like someone is stabbing me in the eye.”

Mr. Davis describes a two-week history of severe headaches occurring one to two times daily lasting for about 45 minutes to an hour each time.  The headaches started up abruptly after a two-year headache-free period.  He describes them as strictly unilateral, centering around his right eye and temple with excruciating, sharp, burning pain.  They are severe and he rates them at 10 out of 10 pain.  He also experiences some redness of the eye, watering of the eye and runny nose when the symptoms occur.  Nothing seems to help when the headaches come on, though he’s tried Tylenol and ibuprofen.  He has no other past medical history.

ANSWER