Posted: August 17th, 2017

A patient who demonstrates an obtunded level of consciousness

A patient who demonstrates an obtunded level of consciousness
a) sleeps almost constantly but can be aroused and can follow simple commands.
An obtunded patient stays awake only with persistent stimulation.
b) has difficulty following commands, and may be agitated or irritable.
A confused patient has difficulty following commands, and may be agitated or irritable.
c) sleeps often and shows slowed speech and thought processes.
A patient who sleeps often and shows slowed speech and thought processes is described as lethargic.
d) does not respond to environmental stimuli.
A comatose patient does not respond to environmental stimuli.