North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

If a patient has a GCS score of 14, what can be inferred about their neurologic condition?

1. Severe dysfunction

2. Mild dysfunction

3. Moderate dysfunction

4. No dysfunction

The correct answer is: Mild dysfunction

A Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 14 suggests that the patient has a mild dysfunction. The GCS is a tool used to assess a person's level of consciousness and neurological function, with scores ranging from 3 (indicating deep unconsciousness) to 15 (indicating full consciousness). A score of 14 indicates that the patient is alert and responsive, displaying only slight impairment in either verbal response or motor function. In clinical practice, a score of 14 typically signifies that the patient may be awake and able to follow commands, but there could be subtle signs of impairment requiring further monitoring and evaluation. Thus, while the patient is functioning at a relatively high level, it reflects a minor degree of dysfunction where additional observation and assessment may be warranted.