Abstract
Research reported that mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), the most common neurological condition in the world, isoften undetected in the emergency department. Failure to properly detect and offer treatment therapies has been linkedto chronic complications such as, mood disorders and postconcussion syndrome. This descriptive study used a tailoredsurvey (25.0% response rate) to determine emergency department nurses' practices for the assessment anddocumentation of persons with MTBI. The primary purpose was to determine the extent to which these practices werealigned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines contained within the Acute ConcussionEvaluation care plan. Results indicated that physical and cognitive symptoms were assessed and documented more thanemotional or sleep symptoms. Still, some cognitive and physical symptoms were rarely assessed or documented. Focusseemed to be on ruling out more severe brain injury versus detection of a mild brain injury. Aligning the systematicassessment and documentation of persons with suspected concussion MTBI with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is suggested.