Sports Nursing Course

Lesson 1 • Exercise Physiology Essentials

Covers energy systems, fatigue mechanisms, and physiological responses to training loads. Connects exercise science to clinical decision-making in athlete care.

Lesson 2 • Ethics and Professionalism in Sports Nursing

Addresses confidentiality, informed consent, and conflicts of interest unique to sports environments. Builds the ethical reasoning skills applied in all subsequent clinical chapters.

Lesson 3 • Role and Scope of Sports Nursing

Defines sports nursing as a specialty distinct from general nursing. Clarifies practice boundaries, collaborative roles, and accountability within sports medicine teams.

Lesson 1 • Functional Movement Screening

Introduces standardized movement screening tools to detect mobility and stability deficits. Results guide individualized injury prevention planning for each athlete.

Lesson 2 • Injury Risk Factor Identification

Identifies intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors predisposing athletes to injury. Links risk profiling to preventive strategies introduced in later chapters.

Lesson 3 • Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation

Outlines the components of a pre-participation evaluation and its role in clearance decisions. Teaches nurses to gather and interpret health history and physical findings.

Lesson 4 • Vital Signs and Baseline Measurements

Establishes normal and athlete-specific vital sign ranges and baseline performance metrics. Accurate baselines enable comparison after injury or illness throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Head and Spine Injury Identification

Addresses recognition of concussion, cervical spine injury, and spinal cord involvement. Establishes conservative management protocols to prevent secondary neurological damage.

Lesson 2 • Mechanisms of Sports Injury

Explains contact, non-contact, and overuse injury mechanisms across sport types. Understanding mechanism guides accurate diagnosis and appropriate initial management.

Lesson 3 • Bone and Joint Injury Recognition

Identifies fractures, dislocations, and growth plate injuries through clinical signs and history. Distinguishes injuries requiring immediate immobilization and emergency referral.

Lesson 4 • Chronic and Overuse Condition Classification

Classifies tendinopathies, stress fractures, and compartment syndromes by severity stage. Staging guides progressive loading protocols and referral thresholds.

Lesson 1 • Emergency Action Plan Development

Guides creation of venue-specific emergency action plans covering roles, communication, and equipment. A well-rehearsed plan reduces response time and improves outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Spine Boarding and Patient Transport

Teaches safe spinal motion restriction, helmet removal decisions, and coordinated athlete transport. Correct technique prevents secondary spinal cord injury during emergency evacuation.

Lesson 3 • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and AED Use

Reinforces high-quality CPR technique and automated external defibrillator operation in sports contexts. Rapid defibrillation is the primary determinant of survival in sudden cardiac arrest.

Lesson 4 • Airway Management and Breathing Emergencies

Covers airway obstruction, anaphylaxis, asthma exacerbation, and ventilation support in sport. Prompt airway management prevents hypoxic injury during athletic emergencies.

Lesson 1 • Acute Injury Management Principles

Introduces current evidence-based frameworks for acute soft tissue injury management. Replaces outdated protocols with optimal loading and activity-based recovery strategies.

Lesson 2 • Pain Assessment and Non-Pharmacological Relief

Applies validated pain scales and non-pharmacological modalities to manage athlete discomfort. Reduces reliance on medication and supports athlete-centered pain management.

Lesson 3 • Sideline Decision-Making and Referral

Builds clinical reasoning for return-to-play versus removal decisions at the point of care. Establishes clear referral pathways to physicians, surgeons, and allied health professionals.

Lesson 4 • Wound Care and Skin Injury Management

Covers cleansing, closure, and dressing of lacerations, abrasions, and blisters in sport. Proper wound care prevents infection and enables safe return to competition.

Lesson 1 • Medication Administration and Documentation

Applies the rights of medication administration in sports settings and records all interventions accurately. Correct documentation supports safety, accountability, and regulatory compliance.

Lesson 2 • Anti-Doping Regulations and Prohibited Substances

Explains the prohibited substance list, therapeutic use exemptions, and testing procedures. Nurses protect athletes from inadvertent violations through accurate medication counseling.

Lesson 3 • Supplements and Ergogenic Aids

Evaluates evidence for common supplements including protein, creatine, caffeine, and electrolytes. Nurses counsel athletes on efficacy, safety, and contamination risks.

Lesson 4 • Analgesics and Anti-Inflammatory Medications

Reviews NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and topical analgesics used for pain and inflammation in athletes. Addresses dosing, contraindications, and gastrointestinal and renal risks.

Lesson 1 • Masters and Older Athlete Considerations

Identifies age-related physiological changes affecting performance, injury risk, and recovery in older athletes. Modifies care plans to account for comorbidities and polypharmacy.

Lesson 2 • Female Athlete Health and the Triad

Addresses the female athlete triad: energy deficiency, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone density. Nurses screen, counsel, and coordinate care to prevent long-term health consequences.

Lesson 3 • Mental Health in Athletic Populations

Identifies anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and burnout in athletes using validated screening tools. Nurses facilitate timely referral and reduce stigma around mental health in sport.

Lesson 4 • Youth and Adolescent Athlete Care

Covers growth plate vulnerability, overtraining risks, and developmental considerations in young athletes. Nurses apply age-appropriate assessment tools and communicate with parents and guardians.

Lesson 1 • Load Management and Athlete Monitoring

Applies internal and external load monitoring tools to detect overtraining and guide training adjustments. Data-informed load management reduces injury risk across competitive seasons.

Lesson 2 • Evidence-Based Injury Prevention Programs

Reviews structured warm-up and neuromuscular training programs proven to reduce injury incidence. Nurses implement and evaluate prevention programs within team and individual settings.

Lesson 3 • Rehabilitation Principles for Sports Nurses

Covers progressive loading, neuromuscular re-education, and proprioception training relevant to nursing oversight. Nurses monitor rehabilitation milestones and communicate with physiotherapists.

Lesson 4 • Return-to-Sport Continuum and Criteria

Presents the staged return-to-sport model from rest through full competition with objective criteria at each stage. Nurses apply functional and psychological readiness benchmarks before clearance.