General Survey and Mental Status Assessment Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering general survey, mental status evaluation, levels of consciousness, and the Glasgow Coma Scale based on the lecture notes.

General Survey

The first step of physical assessment that provides visual information and basic evaluation of the whole patient, including overall appearance, behavior, vital signs, height, weight, and personal characteristics.

Affect

Refers to the external expression of emotion, assessed to determine whether it is appropriate for the situation.

Abstract Reasoning

The ability to solve a problem, think abstractly, or think at a higher level than a child, reported as intact or not intact.

Oriented x 4

Documentation indicating that a patient appropriately identifies person, place, time, and situation.

Short-Term Memory Assessment

Evaluated by asking the client to remember 3 unrelated objects, repeating them, continuing assessment, and then asking the client to name the 3 objects.

Long-Term Memory Assessment

Evaluated by asking the patient a question about an event that occurred several years ago that most people would know.

Lethargic or Somnolent

A level of consciousness characterized by a lack of energy and being sluggish.

Obtunded

A level of consciousness characterized by being mentally dulled.

Stupor or Semi-coma

A state of sleeping most of the time characterized by a lack of critical cognitive function and level of consciousness.

Coma

Unconsciousness lasting more than 6 hours in which the patient fails to respond to painful stimuli.

Glasgow Coma Scale

An assessment tool used to determine level of consciousness by evaluating eye opening, best verbal response, and best motor response.

GCS Eye Opening Scoring

Scored as 4 for spontaneously, 3 for on request, 2 for to painful stimuli, and 1 for no response.

GCS Best Verbal Response Scoring

Scored as 5 for oriented to time, place, person; 4 for confused; 3 for inappropriate words; 2 for incomprehensible sounds; and 1 for no response.

GCS Best Motor Response Scoring

Scored as 6 for obeys commands, 5 for localizes to painful stimulus, 4 for withdraws from pain, 3 for flexed extremities (decorticate), 2 for extended extremities (decerebrate), and 1 for no response.

Decorticate Posturing

Flexed extremities observed during motor assessment, receiving a score of 3 on the Glasgow Coma Scale.

Decerebrate Posturing

Extended extremities observed during motor assessment, receiving a score of 2 on the Glasgow Coma Scale.

GCS Normal Total Score

A total Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15.

GCS Coma Total Score

A total Glasgow Coma Scale score of 7.

GCS Brain Dead Total Score

A total Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3.

Assessment of Lung Sounds

Evaluated during the physical examination part of physical assessment, not during the general survey.