Exhibits Which may have caused the change in the Glasgow Coma Scale score between 2000 and 2400? Select all that apply.
Explanation & Rationale
A. The client may be developing sepsis. Sepsis typically presents with symptoms such as fever, increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, and altered blood pressure. There is no indication of these signs in the provided data, making sepsis an unlikely cause for the change in the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. B. The client may be dehydrated. Dehydration can affect cognitive function, but there is no evidence suggesting dehydration in this scenario (e.g., normal heart rate, blood pressure, and no noted intake/output imbalance). C. The client may have increasing symptoms of head injury. A decrease in GCS score can indicate worsening head injury symptoms, such as increased intracranial pressure or bleeding. D. The client may have been sleeping. Sleeping can temporarily affect the GCS score, particularly the eye-opening component. E. The client may be improving clinically. Improvement clinically would likely result in a stable or improved GCS score, not a decrease. F. The client may require more morphine. Needing more morphine would typically be due to increased pain, but this should not directly affect the GCS score unless severe pain is causing altered consciousness, which is not indicated here. G. The client may be experiencing sedative effects of morphine. Morphine, especially given intravenously, can cause sedation, which could lower the GCS score. H. The client may need food. Needing food would not typically cause an immediate change in GCS score unless associated with severe hypoglycemia, which is not indicated by the provided data.