Neurological observations in infants, children and young people: part one

Kelvin McMillan; Hannah Shaw; Alice Hemesley; Waheeda Zaman; Nabisah Qazim

doi:10.7748/ncyp.2023.e1472

Neurological observations in infants, children and young people: part one

Nurs Child Young People. 2023 Jul 3. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2023.e1472. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Kelvin McMillan¹, Hannah Shaw², Alice Hemesley³, Waheeda Zaman⁴, Nabisah Qazim⁴

Affiliations

¹ Medical School, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England.
² College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England.
³ Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, England.
⁴ Faculty of Health Education and Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, England.

PMID: 37394988
DOI: 10.7748/ncyp.2023.e1472

Abstract

Caring for infants, children and young people with an acquired brain injury (ABI) can be challenging due to their developing brain and reliance on parents and caregivers. It is essential that children's nurses are able to perform effective neurological observations, because these can identify deterioration and inform the management of patients with an ABI. This is the first of two articles that aim to encourage accuracy and consistency when undertaking neurological observations in infants, children and young people with an ABI to optimise their care. This first article details the pathophysiology, types and causes of ABIs and explains the potential complications that can occur following such injuries.

Keywords: child health; clinical; neurology; nursing care; observations; patient assessment; patients; professional.