Glasgow Coma Scale

GLASGOW COMA SCALE (GCS)

Neurological assessment tool used by nurses to evaluate level of consciousness

Neuro / Emergency
NCLEX
Diagram-Based
🧠
Glasgow Coma Scale
Total Score: 3 – 15

👁 Eye Opening (E)

4 – Spontaneous

3 – To speech

2 – To pain

1 – None

🗣 Verbal Response (V)

5 – Oriented

4 – Confused

3 – Inappropriate

2 – Sounds

1 – None

✋ Motor Response (M)

6 – Obeys commands

5 – Localizes pain

4 – Withdraws

3 – Decorticate

2 – Decerebrate

1 – None

NCLEX TIP: GCS ≤ 8 → Protect the airway

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assesses neurological status using eye, verbal, and motor responses.

  • Total score ranges from 3 to 15
  • Used in trauma, head injury, ICU, and emergency nursing
  • Lower scores indicate decreased level of consciousness

Score Interpretation

  • 13–15: Mild or no brain injury
  • 9–12: Moderate brain injury
  • ≤ 8: Severe brain injury / coma

1. Eyes to pain, incomprehensible sounds, withdraws from pain. What is the GCS?

2. Which motor response has the highest score?

Glasgow Coma Scale