Which of the following is used to assess the level of consciousness:

Appeared in: BHU NO-2019

Explanation

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is the most common scoring system used to describe the level of consciousness in a person following a traumatic brain injury.
It is an objective and reliable tool that assesses a patient's responsiveness in three key areas: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response.
The total score ranges from 3 to 15, where a lower score indicates a more severe impairment of consciousness.
A score of 8 or less is typically indicative of a coma and may necessitate airway protection like intubation.

Option A: The APGAR score is a specialized tool used exclusively for newborns at 1 and 5 minutes after birth to assess their transition to extrauterine life.
Option B: The Braden Scale assesses factors like sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear to predict the risk of developing pressure ulcers.
Option D: The Snellen chart is used to test visual acuity (clarity of vision) and has no role in assessing a patient's level of consciousness.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Assessment tools for patient evaluation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Regularly assessing the GCS is a critical nursing responsibility for patients with head injuries, strokes, or other neurological conditions to detect deterioration early.
A decrease in the GCS score is a significant finding that must be reported to the physician immediately as it may indicate rising intracranial pressure or other complications.
The mnemonic 'GCS less than 8, intubate' is a widely followed clinical guideline to protect the airway in patients with a severely depressed level of consciousness.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'assess the level of consciousness'.
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of common clinical assessment tools.
Mentally review the purpose of each option provided.
APGAR is for newborns. Braden is for pressure ulcers. Snellen is for vision.
Recognize that the Glasgow Coma Scale is the specific tool designed for grading consciousness.
Select the option that directly matches the function described in the question stem.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 412-414

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 2 Part 2 p. 86-88

E6 Guide to Mental Health & PSYCHIATRIC NURSING R Sreevani— Part 2 (pp 290-564 of 579) p. 196-198

Practise the full BHU NO-2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.