A&Ox4...?

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Perhaps a stupid question, but I am seeing this charted and other nurses mentioning it in report...but what the heck does A&Ox4 mean? I know what A&Ox3 is, but what is that 4th variable that they are referring to? Never heard of it until I started working as an RN....:banghead:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

1= self

2= self, person

3= self, person, place

4= self, person, place...some nurses assess the patient's awareness of time/other nurses assess the patient's awareness of the situation

The order is based on a hierarchy of neurological function/dysfunction.

Asking the right questions and assessment of the patient's condition and other dysfunctions is important. For example, you can't expect verbalized answers from a stroke patient that is aphasic, otherwise you might misinterpret the answers as A/O x 1. You have to use other tools or assessment methods at your disposal.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Makes sense, thank you! I'm just wondering why I wasn't taught this in school...:confused:

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

AOx4 = Alert and oriented to (1) person, (2) place, (3) time, and (4) situation.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
TheCommuter said:
AOx4 = Alert and oriented to (1) person, (2) place, (3) time, and (4) situation.

Do different places have different standards? Our charting checkboxes have self, person, place, time.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Our checkboxes include:

* oriented to person

* oriented to place

* oriented to time

* oriented x3

* disoriented to person

* disoriented to place

* disoriented to time

* disoriented x3

* unable to assess at this time

(too many options, I think, because obviously if they are only oriented to person they are disoriented to place and time...-_-)

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
dudette10 said:
Do different places have different standards? Our charting checkboxes have self, person, place, time.

I suppose the standard does vary in different places. Click on the website link below to take a look at page 2, which contains a clear definition of AOx4, AOx3, and so forth.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-orientation-and-how-is-it-affected-by-dementia-98571

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