medsurg 2.1 Flashcards
State of full awareness of self and environment and normal responsiveness to external stimulation and inner needs
consciousness
Integrity of the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)
arousal (wakefulness)
Integrity of the cerebral cortex
awareness (content)
Quality and coherence of thought and behavior
consciousness
Condition of a normal person when awake
normal alertness
Fully responsive to a thought or perception and indicates by behavior and speech the same awareness of self and environment as that of the examiner
normal alertness
Attention to and interaction with immediate surroundings
normal alertness
May fluctuate during the day from keen alertness to deep concentration with marked concentration of attention to mild inattentiveness but individual can be brought immediately to a state of a full alertness and mental functio
normal alertness
Inability to think with customary speed, clarity and coherence
confusion
Impaired judgement and decision making
confusion
Most often due to a process that affects the whole brain such as encephalopathies or dementia
confusion
Most events that involve the confused patient leave no trace in memory
confusion
test for confusion
Recall events
Defect in use of working memory
Serial subtraction or spelling backwards or digit span and backwards
Impaired registration (mangga, mesa pera)
May incorporate clouded interpretation of internal and external experience
Inability to integrate and attach symbolic meaning to experience (apperception)
confusion
Degree of confusion varies from hour to hour
Least pronounced in morning, increases as the day wears on, peaking in early evening hours
confusion
Lt. “to go out of the furrow”
delirium
Severe inattentiveness, altered mental content and sometimes hyperactivity
delirium
Characterized by misperception of sensory stimuli often with hallucinations
delirium
Disoriented first to time, next to place then to persons in their environment
delirium
Inability to sustain a wakeful state without application of external stimuli (verbal)
drowsiness
Decreased mental, speech and physical activity
drowsiness
There is some degree of inattentiveness and mild confusion coupled with drowsiness that improves with arousal
drowsiness
Patient shifts positions naturally and without prompting
drowsiness
Lids droop, may snore, limbs relaxed
drowsiness
