Neurological assessment Flashcards
Which part of the ABCDE assessment is neurological assessment part of?
Neurological assessments occur in the disability section of the ABCDE assessment.
Why is a neurological assessment important?
It is a structured process to monitor a patient’s neurological status and it collects information on a patient’s central nervous system.
What does the AVPU assessment stand for?
Alert - eyes open spontaneously
Voice - eyes open to verbal response
Pain - eyes only open from painful stimuli
Unresponsive - patient does not respond
What is the AVPU assessment used?
To interpret a patient’s conscious level in an emergency situation.
What does the Glasgow Coma Scale look at responses in?
Eye opening
Verbal responses
Motor responses
What is the highest and lowest possible score on the GCS?
Highest 15, lowest 3.
What are the meanings of different GCS scores?
GCS<8 = servere
GCS 9-12 = moderate
GCS>13 = mild
How is a limb assessment used as part of a neurological assessment?
Assessment of limb power and movement provides additional insight into motor response.
How is pupil response used as part of a neurological assessment?
Pupils are assessed individually. Pupil size and reactivity to light provide insight into the function of the 3rd cranial nerve.
What is a normal pupil response?
Pupils to react by briskly contracting with an equal size of 2-5 cm when a light source is introduced.
How is pupil response assessed?
Light should be introduced from the side of each eye and observing pupil size before and after. Pupil size is recorded and documented as a number. Assessment includes documenting the pupil reaction e.g brisk, sluggish, fixed.
