<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Glasgow Coma Scale is a practical tool, accepted and utilised worldwide, to assess a patient’s conscious level. Despite the introduction of other tools, the Glasgow Coma Scale still remains the most reliable and effective method of detecting neurological deterioration.Detecting neurological change in an individual requires skilled observation and must rely on the ability of the clinician to carry out an accurate and reliable assessment. A large limitation of the Glasgow Coma Scale is that observer assessments may vary from clinician to clinician. What one individual may observe as neurological deterioration, another may not notice.It was recognised by senior nursing staff that if a neurological chart could be designed, that enhanced the ability to see the trends in a patient’s conscious level and instructed clinicians on when to report a finding, deterioration may be identified earlier and managed more efficiently.This study outlines a new neurological chart implemented at a busy private hospital in Melbourne and discusses the impact that clear and concise observation and documentation has on the ability to detect neurological deterioration.</abstract>

The Glasgow Coma Scale is a practical tool, accepted and utilised worldwide, to assess a patient’s conscious level. Despite the introduction of other tools, the Glasgow Coma Scale still remains the most reliable and effective method of detecting neurological deterioration.Detecting neurological change in an individual requires skilled observation and must rely on the ability of the clinician to carry out an accurate and reliable assessment. A large limitation of the Glasgow Coma Scale is that observer assessments may vary from clinician to clinician. What one individual may observe as neurological deterioration, another may not notice.It was recognised by senior nursing staff that if a neurological chart could be designed, that enhanced the ability to see the trends in a patient’s conscious level and instructed clinicians on when to report a finding, deterioration may be identified earlier and managed more efficiently.This study outlines a new neurological chart implemented at a busy private hospital in Melbourne and discusses the impact that clear and concise observation and documentation has on the ability to detect neurological deterioration.

Top of the Charts: Detecting neurological deterioration more efficiently through improved documentation

Australasian Journal of Neuroscience

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The Glasgow Coma Scale is a practical tool, accepted and utilised worldwide, to assess a patient’s conscious level. Despite the introduction of other tools,...

Top of the Charts: Detecting neurological deterioration more efficiently through improved documentation

Published Online: Jan 25, 2018

Page range: 17 - 20

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/ajon-2017-122

Keywords
Glasgow Coma Scale, neurological observations, neurological assessment, conscious level assessment

© 2016 Rhiannon Carey et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Top of the Charts: Detecting neurological deterioration more efficiently through improved documentation

Published Online: Jan 25, 2018

Page range: 17 - 20

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/ajon-2017-122

KeywordsGlasgow Coma Scale, neurological observations, neurological assessment, conscious level assessment

© 2016 Rhiannon Carey et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Glasgow Coma Scale, neurological observations, neurological assessment, conscious level assessment