Clinical scales and scores
The scores carers calculate at the bedside: Glasgow, pain scales (NRS, VAS, Algoplus), Braden and Norton for pressure ulcers, Apgar, MMSE, BMI and qSOFA, with cases to score.
- 33 cards
- 3 topics
- Free
The outline, topic by topic
Each topic is weighted the way the exam weighs it.
- Concepts
- Scenarios
- Understand
A few cards from the deck
Glasgow Coma Scale: what is it?
Show the answer
A consciousness score from 3 to 15: eye opening (1 to 4), verbal response (1 to 5), motor response (1 to 6).
A score of 8 or less means coma and raises the question of airway protection.
A patient opens his eyes to pain, makes incomprehensible sounds and withdraws his arm from pain. What is the Glasgow score?
- 8
- 10
- 6
- 12
Show the answer
8
Eyes 2 + verbal 2 + motor 4 (withdrawal) = 8: it is a coma.
Numeric rating scale (NRS): what is it?
Show the answer
Self-rating of pain from 0 (none) to 10 (worst imaginable).
Self-rating is the reference when the patient can communicate.
Why is the best response scored in the Glasgow scale?
- To get a nicer score
- By convention without reason
- The worst is scored
- To reflect the true level of consciousness, without underestimating it
Show the answer
To reflect the true level of consciousness, without underestimating it
If the two sides differ, the better side is used.
Visual analogue scale (VAS): what is it?
Show the answer
A slider on which the patient places a cursor between 'no pain' and 'worst pain'.
It requires understanding the instruction well.
A patient rates her pain 7 out of 10 after surgery. What should be done?
- Do nothing, it is normal after surgery
- It is severe pain: give the prescribed painkiller and reassess
- Wait until it reaches 10
- Ask her to wait until tomorrow
Show the answer
It is severe pain: give the prescribed painkiller and reassess
Reassess after the painkiller to judge its effect.