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

Neurological observations are a vital part of clinical assessment of the child in hospital, they are designed to identify indications of new or further brain injury. Nursing neurological observations consist of the AVPU, Glasgow Coma scale, pupillary response, and limb movement & strength assessment. The Glasgow Coma scale is a system to assess function and consciousness in patients at risk of neurological deterioration, it was originally created in 1974 by Jennett and Teasdale and was adapted by Tatman et al. in 1997 for children and infants. It has become an integral part of the clinical assessment of children with brain injuries of all mechanisms.