Question

A patient has increased intracranial pressure (ICP). The nurse evaluates the patient's level of consciousness and records a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score that indicates the patient is in a comatose state. What would be an appropriate GCS score? Select all that apply.

-4

-5

-6

-9

-11

Answer 1

Appropriate GCS scores indicating a comatose state are 4, 5, and 6, as a GCS score of less than 8 is generally considered to indicate a coma.

Step-by-step explanation:

An appropriate Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score indicating that a patient is in a comatose state would be scores of A. 4, B. 5, and C. 6. The GCS is a neurological scale designed to give a reliable, objective way of recording the conscious state of a person for initial as well as subsequent assessment. A person is assessed against the criteria of the scale, and the resulting score is a number from 3 (indicating deep unconsciousness) to either 14 (original scale) or 15 (more widely used modified scale).

GCS score of less than 8 is generally considered to indicate a coma. Therefore, options A (GCS score of 4), B (GCS score of 5), and C (GCS score of 6), all of which are less than 8, would appropriately describe a comatose state. Options D (GCS score of 9) and E (GCS score of 11) are not correct as they are higher than 8 and typically do not indicate coma.