Knowledge on Glasgow Coma Scale Among Staff Nurses

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) which tested 3 neurological aspects of the patient’s response: eye opening, limb movement, and vocalization. It is important to note that the scale is intended to assess level of consciousness and is not designed for following neurological deficits, this tool is used worldwide for neurological assessment of level of consciousness in nursing practice and is further enhanced with the support of best practice guidelines. It is therefore the most sensitive and reliable indicator of all neurological patient’s. Nurses who work in areas that care for these patients need to be competent in assessing GCS. The present study was aimed to assess the Knowledge on Glasgow Coma Scale among Staff Nurses in Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences”. Study was conducted among staff nurses working in medical wards, surgical wards, ortho and critical care units. 375 Participants were selected by simple random sampling. Among 375staff nurses 125(33.3%) had inadequate knowledge, 175(46.6%) had moderately adequate knowledge and 75(20.0%) had adequate knowledge. There is no association between the knowledge and selected socio demographic variables. The Staff Nurses from all the wards have moderate level of Glasgow Coma Scale because of their daily patient assessment and years of experience. The current study recommended that they have to be educated about Glasgow Coma Scale.