A score is applied to each category and then added up to give an overall value ranging from 3 to 15. The Glasgow coma scale is based on three aspects of a patient’s behaviour - eye opening, verbal response and motor response (Table 1). It is the method favoured by The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and this article outlines guidelines the trust has developed in order to standardise its practice and to minimise any possibility of misinterpretation.
The Glasgow coma scale, developed by Teasdale and Jennett (1974), is the most widely used assessment tool for measuring a patient’s level of consciousness. Jake Timothy, FRCS, FRCS (SN), MBBS, EANS Part A, is consultant neurosurgeon Juliette Cosgrove, Post Grad Dip, MA, BSc, RGN, is critical care nurse consultant all at The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustĪssessing a patient’s level of consciousness is an essential component of a neurological examination, which is usually performed alongside an assessment of pupil size and reaction, vital signs and focal neurological signs in the limbs. Debra Fairley, MSc, Post Grad Cert, BSC, RGN, is critical care nurse consultant
