A patient is responsive to verbal prompts but is confused and there are no life threats; what is the next step in assessment?

A patient is responsive to verbal prompts but is confused and there are no life threats; what is the next step in assessment?

• A. Head-to-toe assessment
• B. Establish a care priority list
• C. Check glucose level only
• D. Place in Trendelenburg

Answer: (A)

When there are no life threats and the patient is responsive but confused, the next step is a head-to-toe secondary assessment. After the primary survey confirms airway, breathing, and circulation are stable, you want a systematic check of every body region to uncover injuries or conditions that aren’t immediately life-threatening but still require attention. This thorough exam helps you detect subtle injuries, signs of medical illness, or evolving problems (for example head injury, chest or abdominal findings, limb deformities, or signs of infection or stroke risk) and pairs with a focused history to guide treatment and transport decisions. The other options aren’t as appropriate here: establishing a care priority list is more about scene management or multi-patient scenarios, checking glucose alone is too narrow for a confused patient, and placing someone in Trendelenburg is not indicated for this situation and can be harmful.

When there are no life threats and the patient is responsive but confused, the next step is a head-to-toe secondary assessment. After the primary survey confirms airway, breathing, and circulation are stable, you want a systematic check of every body region to uncover injuries or conditions that aren’t immediately life-threatening but still require attention. This thorough exam helps you detect subtle injuries, signs of medical illness, or evolving problems (for example head injury, chest or abdominal findings, limb deformities, or signs of infection or stroke risk) and pairs with a focused history to guide treatment and transport decisions. The other options aren’t as appropriate here: establishing a care priority list is more about scene management or multi-patient scenarios, checking glucose alone is too narrow for a confused patient, and placing someone in Trendelenburg is not indicated for this situation and can be harmful.