Not all head injuries are created equal—and a basilar skull fracture is one you absolutely don’t want to miss. In this episode, Dr. Morgan Taylor, DNP, CPNP, CCRN, breaks down what makes this injury so dangerous, what signs to look for, and the key safety precautions every nurse must remember.
You’ll hear a real ED case involving a teenage hockey player, and how subtle signs like pupil changes and low-grade fever helped uncover a serious risk for meningitis. This episode is packed with high-yield clinical insights and a practice NCLEX question to tie it all together.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
What a basilar skull fracture is—and why it’s so serious
Key signs: raccoon eyes, Battle’s sign, CSF rhinorrhea
Why nasal suctioning and NG tubes are contraindicated
What the “halo sign” means and how to test for CSF leaks
Common complications like meningitis—and when to act fast
High-yield NCLEX prioritization question: what symptom needs immediate follow-up?
By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to spot a fracture that opens a direct line between the outside world and the brain—and exactly how to protect your patient from the worst-case scenario.
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