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Level of consciousness

Long-Term Care Nursing Advisor, September 7, 2007

The level of consciousness is always the most important indicator of cerebral injury or other neurological problem. Apply the following definitions consistently when describing the resident:

  • Alert: The resident is awake and responds appropriately
  • Lethargic: The resident is very sleepy, but arouses to stimulation
  • Obtunded: The resident is difficult to arouse, but responds appropriately
  • Stuporous: The resident is not completely alert, but responds to pain
  • Semicomatose: The resident has reflex movements and responds to pain
  • Comatose: The resident is completely unresponsive to stimuli

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