only arousable to painful stimuli

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What is the first action when someone is only arousable to painful stimuli? I think it pulse oximetry, but maybe lower the head of the bed? I'm not sure how simple to think with this?

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Specializes in Pedi.

What would pulse oximetry do? What is the patient's baseline/what is their underlying medical condition? If you're worried about decreased level of consciousness due to increased ICP, absolutely DO NOT lower the head of the bed.

I need more information than you've provided to properly answer this. I had a patient a few weeks ago (a child) who slept through my accessing her port-a-cath with no emla cream on. She didn't wake up at all when I jammed a needle into her chest, gave her chemotherapy and deaccessed her port. This is her baseline. When she wakes up, she is awake, alert, conversant and goes to school. So I would do nothing when she doesn't arouse even to painful stimuli because she is asleep and is just a heavy sleeper.

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I am talking about a person with pneumonia and they are not aroused except by painful stimuli. The question is vague. I'm sorry.

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Specializes in ER trauma, ICU - trauma, neuro surgical.

In general, you would check their breathing status. Basically, ABC's. The big thing with decreased LOC is how good they are breathing. Pulse ox would be a slightly correct answer if this was on a test and you had a limited number of choices to choice from, but as posted before, there isn't enough info to give a solid answer. If the pt had pneumonia, then breathing would definitely be the obvious. But, the specific assessment or intervention would depend on the situation or choice of answers.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
What is the first action when someone is only arousable to painful stimuli? I think it pulse oximetry, but maybe lower the head of the bed? I'm not sure how simple to think with this?

ABC, ABC, ABC.....basic first aid......is their air way patent, are they breathing, do they have a pulse.

Lower the HOB? lowering the HOB is not beneficial in most situations except CPR.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

ABCs - vital signs - blood sugar - quick check of the pupils - call the MD and/or rapid response team as appropriate

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not trying to be nit picky, but the word you want in rousable, not arousable.

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