Question

When you introduce yourself to your patient and ask why 9-1-1 was called, the patient looks at you, shakes your hand, and answers your questions appropriately. From these findings, you can gather that the patient:

a) has a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15
b) has not experienced a traumatic injury
c) will likely not require medication therapy
d) does not have a life-threatening condition"

Answer 1

The correct answer is that the patient has a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15, indicating full orientation and motor response. However, this does not discount the potential for other medical issues and reinforces the importance of rapid neurological evaluation in emergencies.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient can properly introduce themselves, shake hands, and answer questions appropriately, it indicates that they have intact cognitive and motor functions. This means the patient likely has a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 15, which is the highest possible score and suggests full orientation and motor response. However, this initial assessment does not conclusively rule out that they have not experienced a traumatic injury, will not require medication therapy, or do not have a life-threatening condition. A patient may still experience medical issues such as a sensory disturbance or speech problems without affecting their GCS score. It is crucial to conduct a rapid assessment of neurological function in an emergency situation because it can identify a potentially life-threatening condition like a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), and swift treatment is essential for recovery. The FAST mnemonic—assessing facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties, and time to call for help—is a quick way to identify signs of a stroke in progress.