CE : 1.1 contact hour
Bell ' s Palsy
Diagnosis and Prioritization of Care
By Daniel M . Edgar BSN , RN , CEN , NHDP-BC , PHRN
PSNA is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center ’ s Commission on Accreditation .
The planners and author for this continuing education activity have declared they have no confl ict of interest .
Successful completion is reading the article and submitting the post-test .
Abstract
Issue 3 2017 Pennsylvania Nurse 6
Bell ’ s palsy is a disorder that closely mimics the traditional signs and symptoms of stroke and other medical conditions . Registered nurses ( RNs ) and clinicians should become familiar with this disease and how it may present . In this article ’ s case study , a patient arrives at the hospital with a characteristic presentation of Bell ’ s palsy signs and symptoms . The suspected pathophysiology of the condition is discussed , including contradictions in research identifying a specific cause for the disease . Evidence-based treatment options for acute care and the prevention of long-term sequelae are reviewed , including corticosteroid and antiviral treatments . Familiarity with the clinical presentation , pathophysiology , treatment , and management options for Bell ’ s palsy patients allows RNs and providers to prioritize acute medical care while efficiently utilizing suitable resources .
Bell ’ s Palsy
Bell ’ s palsy ( BP ), which is an idiopathic attack of the facial nerve , is the predominant reason that people develop acute peripheral facial palsy ( Fujiwara , Matsuda , Tanaka , & Hato , 2017 ). It is characterized as an idiopathic disease because the true cause of the disorder is not fully understood ( McCance & Huether , 2014 ). It has been widely theorized that BP is caused by an insult , probably viral , of the seventh cranial nerve .