Nursing Care of the Polio Survivor
Acute poliovirus infection does not end the medical, social, and emotional changes polio survivors experience. While long ago, physicians and nurses were trained to care for patients with poliomyelitis, today’s healthcare professionals are not routinely educated to recognize and treat late effects of poliomyelitis (LEoP).
Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) is the most prevalent motor neuron disease in America. Estimates of polio survivors with PPS vary from over 300,000 to 640,000 in the United States of America. Nurses stand on the frontline when polio survivors describe extreme pain and fatigue along with a plethora of disorders that befall polio survivors decades after acute poliovirus infection.
Every polio survivor experienced poliomyelitis in an individual way. Not all polio survivors at a health check-up will offer information about possible LEoP or PPS. Polio survivors were brought up to not complain but instead endure. This module presents a roadmap of poliovirus travel and destruction through the body. Armed with this information, the nurse can talk with polio survivors about how poliomyelitis affects their life today.
Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) is the most prevalent motor neuron disease in America. Estimates of polio survivors with PPS vary from over 300,000 to 640,000 in the United States of America. Nurses stand on the frontline when polio survivors describe extreme pain and fatigue along with a plethora of disorders that befall polio survivors decades after acute poliovirus infection.
Every polio survivor experienced poliomyelitis in an individual way. Not all polio survivors at a health check-up will offer information about possible LEoP or PPS. Polio survivors were brought up to not complain but instead endure. This module presents a roadmap of poliovirus travel and destruction through the body. Armed with this information, the nurse can talk with polio survivors about how poliomyelitis affects their life today.
Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:
- State the time period for the onset of LEoP.
- Name the symptoms of Late Effects of Polio (LEoP).
- Define Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS).
- State the time period for the onset of PPS.
- List two risk factors for PPS.
- List three tests used to diagnose PPS.
- Name the two most common symptoms of PPS.
- Discuss the use of electromyography for the patient with PPS.
- Give two examples of peri-operative nursing measures specific to the care of the patient with PPS.
- Discuss measures a nurse can employ to calm a polio survivor undergoing surgery.
- Describe common personality characteristics of childhood polio survivors.
- Define end-stage polio grief.
Curriculum
Chapter 1: Late Effects of Polio (LEoP)
Chapter 2: Post-Polio Syndrome
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Risk Factors Associated with PPS
Chapter 3: PPS Diagnosis
- Cause of PPS
- How Poliovirus Travels Within the Body During Acute Poliomyelitis
Chapter 4: PPS Symptoms
Chapter 5: PPS and Personality
- PPS and Separation Anxiety
- PPS and Survivor Guilt
- End-Stage Polio Grief
Chapter 6: References
Price: $24.00
Contact Hours: 2
Course Author
Susan L. Schoenbeck
Susan L. Schoenbeck, MSN, RN is a master’s prepared nurse educator. Her professional background includes critical care nursing, university nursing education and administration, along with a clinical specialty of death and spiritual care. She is the author of six books, including POLIO GIRL: It Only Takes One.
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Course Accreditation
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