Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CPEN Practice Questions and Study Guide

Question: 1 / 400

When is it appropriate to use the pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale?

To assess a child's nutritional status

To evaluate a child's level of consciousness

The pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is specifically designed to assess a child's level of consciousness and neurological function. This scale evaluates three aspects of a patient's responsiveness: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Each component is scored, and the total indicates the degree of consciousness impairment. This assessment is crucial in emergency settings to identify changes in a child's neurological status, which can be vital for determining the appropriate treatment and interventions.

The use of the GCS is not for assessing nutritional status, measuring physical growth, or monitoring vital signs, as those assessments require different evaluation tools and criteria. Thus, the focus of the GCS is solely on neurological assessment, making it the appropriate choice when evaluating a child's level of consciousness.

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To measure a child's growth

To monitor vital signs

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