Adult Critical Care Specialty (ACCS) Practice Exam

If a patient shows signs of confusion and altered consciousness, which of the following scales should be utilized to assess their level of awareness?

1. Cardiac rhythm monitor

2. Glasgow Coma Scale

3. Apgar score

4. FIM instrument

The correct answer is: Glasgow Coma Scale

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is the appropriate tool to assess a patient's level of consciousness and awareness in cases of confusion or altered mental status. The GCS specifically evaluates three aspects: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Each of these areas is scored, and the cumulative score provides an objective measure of the patient's neurological function. This scale helps caregivers quickly assess the severity of impairment in consciousness, which is essential in critical care settings. In contrast, a cardiac rhythm monitor is designed for observing heart rhythms and does not provide insights into neurological function. The Apgar score is utilized exclusively for assessing the health of newborns shortly after delivery, focusing on factors like heart rate and respiratory effort, making it irrelevant in cases of adult confusion or altered consciousness. The FIM instrument measures a person's level of disability and aids in evaluating activities of daily living, which does not directly assess cognitive status or awareness. Thus, the GCS stands out as the most appropriate choice for assessing levels of consciousness in a patient showing signs of confusion.