Citation

Jett S. Nurs. Forum 2010; 45(4): 237-245.

Affiliation

Shirley Jett, PhD (c), RN, PHN, is a doctoral student at the University of San Diego, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1744-6198.2010.00195.x

PMID

21077892

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to raise nurses' awareness of the significance and potential public health impact of combat-related blast-induced neurotrauma (BINT) in U.S. troops returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. A comprehensive review of the current literature on BINT was completed by the author, based primarily on combat-related blast exposure in the military population. She found that it is necessary to theorize about potential etiologies for mild traumatic brain injury in the military population since the literature suggests that neurological and psychological trauma resulting from military duty may be linked to exposure to blasts. Identification of potential risk factors for BINT in the military population provides direction for scientific inquiry into this emerging phenomenon. Gaps in current knowledge and its health implications for future scientific study in nursing are presented.

Language: en