Neuro Management Deep Dive: ICP, Surgery, and Nursing Priorities

In this episode of Deep Dive Nursing, we explore the medical management and nursing care of patients with neurologic dysfunction, focusing on high-priority concepts essential for clinical practice and exam success. We define and differentiate key conditions such as dementia, epilepsy, and delirium, while walking through structured approaches to monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) and calculating cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP).

The episode also breaks down major neurosurgical interventions, including craniotomy and transsphenoidal surgery, with an emphasis on critical preoperative assessments and postoperative nursing management. Core nursing priorities—such as fever control, bowel regulation, positioning, and complication prevention in unconscious patients—are highlighted throughout.

We conclude with an in-depth discussion of hydrocephalus across the lifespan, including indications, complications, and nursing care of ventriculoperitoneal shunts. This episode connects pathophysiology to bedside decision-making, helping nurses maintain neurologic stability while supporting both the physical and emotional well-being of patients.