Critical care nursing for the patient with a spinal cord injury.

Knowledge of the dynamics of spinal cord injury to anticipate the myriad of physiologic and psychological complications is essential for effective interventions to achieve optimal patient outcomes. Continuous expert nursing care must be provided to ensure that the patient survives life-threatening events and to facilitate optimal adaptation of the patient and family during this enormous emotional upheaval of their lives. Given the devastating effects of a spinal cord injury, the critical care nurse faces one of the most complex and potentially rewarding challenges of his or her career.