Assessment of motor limb strength by neuroscience nurses: variations in practice and associated challenges.

Background: Limb strength is a central component of neurological assessment and monitoring in nursing practice, yet there is a lack of research examining the tools used by nurses or challenges nurses encounter when using these tools. The evidence base is lacking to inform effective practice and the underpinning educational approaches.

Aim: To determine which tools are used by UK and Irish neuroscience nurses in the assessment of limb strength and the associated challenges and variations in practice.

Resilience learning from the COVID-19 pandemic and its relevance for routine immunization programs.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic represents a threat that has posed a challenge to public health response and threatens immunization programs globally. Despite recommendations to continue routine immunization services, disruptions have been observed to these and mass vaccination campaigns. This may result in setbacks to immunization initiative successes and a rise in cases of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Traumatic brain injury in the Republic of Ireland twenty-five years on: a comparison of two cohorts from a neurosurgical unit.

Objective: We assessed for change in the number of admissions, demographics, mechanism, severity, operative management, length of stay, and in-hospital mortality of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in patients admitted to a Neurosurgical Unit (NSU) in the Republic of Ireland in 2017 compared to 25 years previously.

Method: We performed a retrospective cohort study of TBI admissions during 2017 and compared the results with a prospective cohort study covering a one-year period across 1992 and 1993.

Results: In 2017, 184 patients (5.