Please Help! What does ∆ms mean?

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Operating Room, ICU, CCRN.

One of my patients' admitting diagnosis was respiratory failure, GI bleed, and ∆ms. I have no idea what ∆ms means. I initially thought of multiple sclerosis but the triangle symbol is throwing me off. I'm working on a careplan and I want to make sure my care is thorough. Thanks for your help. Next time, I'll just ask...

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Do you think the triangle was a sloppy A, meaning AMS altered mental status ??? Never saw that in a dx before.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

or a change in mental status.. The triangle means change so maybe :)

I really don't know, just guessing at this point.

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Triangles usually indicate a change in something. As for the MS, it may refer to their mental state.

I know for sure the triangle is a change symbol, I've used it in chemistry and math, as well as general biology. I'm doing prerequisites though so I have no confidence in my answer for MS.

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Specializes in Operating Room, ICU, CCRN.

OMG! You are RIGHT! My patient came in with a change in mental status! You are a life saver!!! THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU! I'll always remember that from now on :) :up:

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Specializes in Operating Room, ICU, CCRN.

Thanks! You are right! I guess I learned that at some point before I started nursing school:down:, LOL! I'm completing my last semester and I guess I lost some things along the way :)

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Yeah that's what I thought as well. AMS is very popular among diagnosis. I'm glad you figured it out.

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Change in mental status or altered mental status

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That's not a triangle, that's a delta, the mathematical sign for "change in" or "difference." You'll see it a lot in documentation. It's read out loud as "Delta."

"AMS" is common diagnosis in your facility, IMKosher? Scary business. Now you can tell them what it really means-- and it's not really an "A."

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