👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team🕐 Updated 2026-08-23🏷️ Physiological Adaptation🔖 Free to read, print, and share
Also known as: mild traumatic brain injury · mild TBI · brain shake
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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Concussion on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
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📒 The 1-minute cheat sheet
🩺 Signs
Brief LOC, confusion, amnesia
Headache, dizziness, N/V
Photophobia, irritability, fatigue
🚩 Report
Worsening HA, repeat vomiting
Unequal pupils, ↓LOC, slurred
Seizures, weakness → bleed!
🎓 Teach
Cognitive + physical rest
No screens/sports until cleared
Wake to check neuro overnight
📚 Concussion — full study notes
The cheat sheet above is your quick recall card. These notes go deeper — what it is, what to do first, what must be reported, and what to teach.
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head that temporarily disrupts brain function without structural damage seen on standard imaging. Symptoms include brief loss of consciousness or feeling dazed, headache, dizziness, confusion, and amnesia surrounding the event. Most symptoms resolve over days to weeks with rest. The main nursing concern is monitoring for a worsening or evolving bleed such as an epidural or subdural hematoma.
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Key points
Understand these first
Defined as a transient alteration in brain function from head trauma; CT and MRI are typically normal because there is no gross structural injury.
Common symptoms: headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, brief amnesia (retrograde or anterograde), and sometimes brief loss of consciousness.
Cognitive and physical rest is the cornerstone of treatment, with gradual, monitored return to activity, school, and sports.
Post-concussion syndrome (persistent headache, dizziness, irritability, poor concentration) can last weeks to months.
Repeated concussions before full recovery raise the risk of second-impact syndrome and long-term cognitive effects.
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Nursing priorities
What to do, in order
Perform serial neurologic assessments including level of consciousness, pupil response, and Glasgow Coma Scale.
Educate the caregiver on warning signs that require immediate return to the emergency department.
Promote physical and cognitive rest by limiting screen time, schoolwork, and strenuous activity.
Manage headache with acetaminophen; avoid aspirin and NSAIDs early because they can increase bleeding risk.
Ensure no return to sports or contact activity until cleared by a provider and symptom-free.
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Red flags — report now
Escalate immediately
Worsening or severe headache, repeated vomiting, increasing confusion or drowsiness, unequal pupils, slurred speech, weakness, or seizures — signs of an evolving intracranial bleed; return to the ED immediately.
Inability to be awakened, clear or bloody drainage from the nose or ears (CSF leak), or a fixed dilated pupil — emergency.
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Patient teaching
What patients must know
Wake or check on the person periodically the first night, and return to the ED for worsening headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, unequal pupils, or trouble waking.
Rest both physically and mentally; limit screens, reading, and strenuous activity until symptoms improve.
Use acetaminophen for headache and avoid aspirin/NSAIDs and alcohol early in recovery.
Do not return to sports or contact activity until a provider clears you to prevent second-impact injury.
Expect a gradual return to normal activity and report symptoms that persist or worsen.
❓ Concussion: NCLEX FAQs
What are the priority nursing interventions for Concussion?
Perform serial neurologic assessments including level of consciousness, pupil response, and Glasgow Coma Scale. Educate the caregiver on warning signs that require immediate return to the emergency department. Promote physical and cognitive rest by limiting screen time, schoolwork, and strenuous activity. Manage headache with acetaminophen; avoid aspirin and NSAIDs early because they can increase bleeding risk.
What are the warning signs of Concussion a nurse must report?
Worsening or severe headache, repeated vomiting, increasing confusion or drowsiness, unequal pupils, slurred speech, weakness, or seizures — signs of an evolving intracranial bleed; return to the ED immediately. Inability to be awakened, clear or bloody drainage from the nose or ears (CSF leak), or a fixed dilated pupil — emergency.
What do I need to know about Concussion for the NCLEX?
Defined as a transient alteration in brain function from head trauma; CT and MRI are typically normal because there is no gross structural injury. Common symptoms: headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, brief amnesia (retrograde or anterograde), and sometimes brief loss of consciousness. Cognitive and physical rest is the cornerstone of treatment, with gradual, monitored return to activity, school, and sports. Post-concussion syndrome (persistent headache, dizziness, irritability, poor concentration) can last weeks to months.
What patient teaching is important for Concussion?
Wake or check on the person periodically the first night, and return to the ED for worsening headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, unequal pupils, or trouble waking. Rest both physically and mentally; limit screens, reading, and strenuous activity until symptoms improve. Use acetaminophen for headache and avoid aspirin/NSAIDs and alcohol early in recovery. Do not return to sports or contact activity until a provider clears you to prevent second-impact injury.
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Quick Tip
Defined as a transient alteration in brain function from head trauma; CT and MRI are typically normal because there is no gross structural injury.