Background: Glasgow coma scale (GCS) is a neurological scale which aims to give a reliable, objective way of recording the conscious state of person, for initial as well as subsequent assessment. The ultimate goal in the use of GCS is to identify those in need of acute intervention as early as possible and thus prevent secondary brain injuries. From a clinical and educational point of view, all health care professionals working in critical care setting should be competent to monitor and be equipped with clinical skills required that ensure high levels of patient safety and quality care.

Methodology: A descriptive survey approach was adopted to determine the use of Glasgow coma scale among the staff nurses of the intensive care units and emergency departments of selected hospitals at Mangalore. By purposive sampling, 60 samples were selected for the study. Data was collected from the sample by using Demographic and Clinical Proforma, Rating scale and Observational Checklist.

Results: There was a significant difference in the use of Glasgow coma scale among the nurses of Medical ICU, Neuro ICU and Emergency departments (F=3.18,P,0.05). Hence the null hypotheses(H0₁) was rejected and research  hypotheses  was accepted. There was no significant association in use of GCS with the selected demographic variables of staff nurses. Hence the null hypotheses (H0₂) was accepted and research hypothesis was rejected..

Conclusion: From the findings of the study it can be concluded that majority of the nurses used the Glasgow coma scale appropriately.

Keywords: Observational Study, Glasgow coma scale, Neurology patients, Intensive care units, Emergency Departments.

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Mrs. Jonita Wilma Rodrigues

MSc. Nursing, Medical Surgical Nursing, Laxmi Memorial College of Nursing, A.J Towers, Balmatta, Mangalore, Karnataka, India