Military Traumatic Brain Injury: The History, Impact, and Future.

This review examines how lessons learned from United States military conflicts, beginning with the United States Civil War through the engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan, have shaped current traumatic brain injury (TBI) care in the United States military, influenced congressional mandates and directives, and led to best practices in caring for the warfighter. Prior to the most recent war, emphasis was placed on improving the surgical and medical care of service members (SM) with severe and especially penetrating brain injuries. However, during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, also known as the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), blast injury from improvised explosive devices most often caused mild TBI (mTBI), an injury that was not always recognized and was labelled the "signature wound" of the GWOT.

Military TBI-What civilian primary care providers should know.

In June 2019, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched the VA Mission Act, which expanded veterans' health-care access to the private sector. Since civilian primary care providers may see more veterans in their practice, it will be important to understand the unique experiences, comorbidities, and culture of this population in order to provide optimal care. Military service members (SMs) are at an increased risk for traumatic brain injury (TBI), and comorbidities, such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), increasing the likelihood of prolonged symptoms.

Mild TBI/Concussion Clinical Tools for Providers Used Within the Department of Defense and Defense Health Agency.

Background: Military personnel are at greater risk for sustaining mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), or concussion, whether they are in a combat or garrison setting. Consequently, mTBI is a major health concern for health practitioners to understand, in order to provide timely assessment and treatment to service members (SM) who are suspected to have mTBI.

Observations: Providing early diagnosis and effective management of symptoms can optimize recovery and promote healthy outcomes.

Mortality Following Hospital Admission for US Active Duty Service Members Diagnosed With Penetrating Traumatic Brain Injury, 2004-2014.

Objective: To examine mortality among active duty US military service members (SMs) with the diagnosis of penetrating traumatic brain injury (PTBI) and a hospital admission between 2004 and 2014.

Design: Data on SMs with PTBI and an admission to a military or civilian hospital were obtained from the 2004 to 2014 Military Health System data repository. After applying exclusion criteria, data on 1226 SMs were analyzed.

A Needs Review of Caregivers for Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury.

A literature review of the stresses of caregivers of active-duty service members and veterans with a traumatic brain injury provides clinicians with the information and resources they can use in caring for this patient population.

Mild traumatic brain injury screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

The majority of combat-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) within the U.S. Armed Forces is mild TBI (mTBI).

Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center: program overview and research initiatives.

For more than 16 years, the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (at one time known is the Defense and Veterans Head Injury Program) has served to develop and disseminate clinical guidelines and undertake innovative clinical research initiatives and educational programs to serve active duty personnel, their dependents, and veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Through educational initiatives and collaboration with civilian institution, the center is ensuring that critical discoveries surrounding TBI prevention, screening, and treatment are made available to preserve and improve the health of those within and outside the military health system.

Home/community monitoring using telephonic follow-up.

Service members who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a war theatre [Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)] may have associated injuries far different and/or more complex (i.e., polytrauma) than injuries obtained outside the theatre of operation.

Traumatic brain injuries sustained in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

When traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs simultaneously with more obviously life-threatening wounds, it may go unrecognized. Civilians and military personnel working in or near combat zones are at risk for this injury. Blast-related and closed-head injuries, rather than penetrating injuries, constitute the majority of TBIs in this population.

Traumatic brain injuries sustained in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

Unlabelled: Because these injuries can go unrecognized, nurses stateside need to know how to recognize possible cases and how to help.

Overview: When traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs simultaneously with more obviously life-threatening wounds, it may go unrecognized. Civilians and military personnel working in or near combat zones are at risk for this injury.

Reflecting on a self-care process in the home setting for traumatic brain injury survivors.

An estimated 5.3 million Americans are living with disabilities from traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause a wide range of functional changes affecting thinking, emotions, and behaviors, or a combination of any of these.

Teaching/learning health promoting behaviors through telehealth.

Associate degree nursing students in a community setting apply self-efficacy theory while helping clients with chronic health problems take personal responsibility for health-related behaviors. Students meet weekly with clients in an apartment complex for seniors and use the telephone to work toward achieving desired short-term health outcomes. Between weekly meetings, they use the telephone to coach clients while establishing a trusting relationship.

Nursing protocol for telephonic supervision of clients.

Access to care, client vulnerabilities, technology, and health costs affect not only the delivery of health care but also the roles, responsibilities, and opportunities for nurses. Patients are often managed in the home or discharged from hospitals before they or their families are ready. To address some of these needs, nurses are utilizing telehealth opportunities.