Some days, it seems like everyone we care for in corrections has a seizure disorder. Seizures may be the result of childhood epilepsy, trauma and traumatic brain injury, drug and alcohol use, brain tumors, or any combination of these conditions. The prevalence of seizure disorder in the correctional facilities is approximately 4%, which is 3 to 4 times greater than in the general population. Thus, it is important for the correctional nurse to understand that there are different types of seizures, and what medication is used for which type of seizure. It is also extremely important for correctional nurses to be able to identify the adverse effects of the most common medications used for seizure disorder, as well as the signs and symptoms of drug toxicity in these patients.  Finally, correctional nurses need to be comfortable with the nursing interventions for patients with seizures, including the provision of patient education regarding seizures.

In this class the etiology of seizures will be discussed.  Classifications of seizures, medication for seizures, and nursing interventions for both the patient actively seizing and the patient with a seizure disorder will be discussed.