Fintan Sheerin

Photographs of quilt squares brought together in the form of a mosaic or eQuilt: arts and crafts activities can stimulate discussion on mental health and well-being

Learning disabilities: can arts and crafts help mental health?

Arts and crafts activities can stimulate discussion on mental health and well-being

Functional loss in older adults with intellectual disabilities and dementia

Functional loss in older adults with intellectual disabilities and dementia

In this population, functional loss could be an early indicator of dementia

Exploring mental health issues in people with an intellectual disability

Exploring mental health issues in people with an intellectual disability

Mental health concerns among people with intellectual disability and the role of nurses

Learning the art of delegation

Delegation is essential in nursing, and doing it effectively will mean that every member of your team will see the benefits

Health and wellness in rural Malawi: a health development initiative

A nurse-assisted, community-led health initiative, part of a Canadian-Irish project called ‘Transformative Praxis: Malawi’, has been developed with the aim of empowering community volunteers to become leaders in their community’s health. This paper traces the growth of this initiative over the past 3 years and explains some of the challenges that have been experienced. It explores how a grass-roots approach, linked to a community hospital, and working in close collaboration with other healthcare providers in the region, provide a platform for future health developments.

Spinal cord injury: acute care management

The first two articles in this series described the anatomy and physiology of the vertebral column and spinal cord, and examined the aetiology and patho-physiology of spinal cord injuries (Sheerin 2004, 2005). These provide a basis for understanding the presentation and management of spinal cord injuries.

Spinal cord injury: causation and pathophysiology

The incidence of spinal cord injury worldwide stands at about 20 new cases per million of population a year (Glass 1999), but is double this figure in the US (DeVivo 2002).

Spinal cord injury: anatomy and physiology of the spinal cord

The imminent arrival of spinal injured patients at emergency departments often sparks fear in all but the most experienced clinicians.

Early pressure ulcer development in spinal cord injured patients

The ongoing international debate on the management of spinal cord injured patients has been reflected in the Irish healthcare system by a move over the past ten years from a conservative to a surgical approach.