An experience nursing an organic psychiatric patient with vertigo

This study documents the nursing of an organically mentally disordered patient with chronic vertigo. The subject suffered a head injury in a traffic accident, resulting in impairments to his cognitive abilities as well as symptoms of recurring vertigo, which hampered his work and family activities. Holistic nursing assessment revealed four areas of nursing concern: risk of falls, impaired self-care ability, caregiver role strain, and powerlessness. Care provided to the subject concentrated on: (1) preventing him from falling again, (2) regaining his ability to care for himself, through gradual training exercises; (3) training his spouse in caring for herself and the subject; (4) establishing his self-assurance by means of cognitive-behavior therapy and vestibular rehabilitation.