Glasgow Coma Scale
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a standardized tool that healthcare professionals, especially nurses, use to assess how alert and responsive a patient is. Think of it as a scoring system that helps measure how conscious someone is after an injury or during illness. Nurses check three main things: whether patients can open their eyes, speak clearly, and move when asked. It's like a report card that goes from 3 (very unresponsive) to 15 (fully awake and alert). When you see this on a resume, it shows the nurse knows how to properly evaluate patients' consciousness levels, which is a crucial skill in emergency rooms, intensive care units, and general medical floors.
Examples in Resumes
Performed regular Glasgow Coma Scale assessments in the Neurological ICU
Trained junior staff on proper GCS scoring techniques
Monitored patient progress using Glasgow Coma Scale assessments in trauma unit
Typical job title: "Nurses"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Nurses
Professional Organizations
Online Communities
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you train new nurses in properly using the Glasgow Coma Scale?
Expected Answer: A senior nurse should explain their teaching methodology, emphasizing common mistakes to avoid, the importance of consistent scoring, and how to document findings properly. They should also mention creating practice scenarios and providing ongoing support.
Q: Describe a situation where GCS scores helped you make critical care decisions.
Expected Answer: The nurse should provide an example showing how they used GCS trends to identify patient deterioration or improvement, communicated with doctors, and adjusted care plans accordingly.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What factors might affect the accuracy of a GCS assessment?
Expected Answer: Should mention factors like intubation, sedation, language barriers, facial trauma, and explain how to adjust assessment techniques in these situations.
Q: How do you respond to changes in a patient's GCS score?
Expected Answer: Should describe the proper escalation protocol, documentation requirements, and immediate nursing interventions needed for declining scores.
Junior Level Questions
Q: Can you explain the three components of the Glasgow Coma Scale?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain eye opening (1-4 points), verbal response (1-5 points), and motor response (1-6 points) in simple terms, and know the total possible score range.
Q: How often should GCS assessments be performed?
Expected Answer: Should know standard assessment frequencies for different situations (e.g., every hour for acute cases, every 4 hours for stable patients) and when to increase frequency.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic GCS scoring
- Regular patient assessments
- Proper documentation
- Recognition of significant changes
Mid (2-5 years)
- Accurate assessment in complex cases
- Training junior staff
- Emergency response coordination
- Trend analysis and interpretation
Senior (5+ years)
- Staff education and competency assessment
- Protocol development
- Quality improvement initiatives
- Complex case management
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to explain the three components of GCS
- Lack of experience in documenting neurological assessments
- No understanding of when to escalate concerns
- Inconsistent scoring methods
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