Complete Study Guide
What is used to to classify LOC and is particularly suited to assess comatose patients and those in the
acute stages of injury? - Correct Answer- Glascow Coma Scale
GCS Range - Correct Answer- 3 to 15
15 on a GCS equals - Correct Answer- full alertness
Mild Injury GCS - Correct Answer- 13-15
Moderate injury GCS - Correct Answer- 9-12
What does a score less than 8 on a GCS indicate? - Correct Answer- severe brain injury
What is being gauged on a GCS? - Correct Answer- -Eye opening
-Motor
-Verbal ability
What is used first in a GCS assessment? - Correct Answer- Voice
What do you do if the patient is unresponsive to auditory cues? - Correct Answer- Use tactile stimulation
What do you begin with when using tactile stimulation? - Correct Answer- gentle shaking or touching
If touching or shaking doesn't work, what next? - Correct Answer- apply more pressure or pinching the
, upper chest or upper back
Major indicator of neurological change - Correct Answer- Level of consciousness
Consciousness refers to both _______ and ______ ________ - Correct Answer- -alertness
-cognitive function
What makes a patient obtunded? - Correct Answer- -They require stimuli for arousal
-can follow commands with repeated stimulation
-are able to respond but only with few words
-appear drowsy
What makes a patient stuporous? - Correct Answer- -lack of spontaneous movement or verbalization
-minimal responsiveness
Patients who are unarousable and have their eyes closed are considered to be what? - Correct Answer-
comatose
How many levels can coma be divided into? - Correct Answer- three
What is primary injury? - Correct Answer- Insult caused directly by contact to the head and brain at the
time of injury
Low impact velocities limit what? - Correct Answer- -Injuries to the skull (fracture)
-injuries to the scalp (laceration)
High velocity impact involves the brain as well causing what? - Correct Answer- intracerebral
hemorrhage