Experimental neuroprotective agents: nursing challenge.

Neuroprotective agents are investigational drugs that can potentially suppress the development of secondary brain injury following cerebral traumatic injury. Currently, critical care nurses in research centers are challenged to care for these patients during the clinical trial phase of these drugs. Soon, if these drugs pass the trial phase and are approved, critical care nurses in all settings may be administering neuroprotective agents to brain injury patients, identifying side effects, and evaluating their effects on secondary brain injury.