The Bedside Nurse: The Foundation of Multimodal Neuromonitoring

Although technology over the past several decades has enabled improved neuroimaging and advanced noninvasive and invasive neuromonitoring, the role of the bedside nurse conducing ongoing neurologic examination is still a foundational element of neuromonitoring. Ongoing neurologic monitoring by the bedside nurse in the neuroscience intensive care unit is variable and guided by little evidence or data. When neurologic monitoring through clinical examination is possible, data obtained from multimodal monitoring should be interpreted in the context of the neurologic examination. The bedside nurse plays a crucial role in conducting ongoing neurologic examinations.