Nursing students' understanding of the Glasgow Coma Scale.
OBJECTIVE
To explore third year nursing students' understanding of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).


METHODS
An explorative survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was used. A convenience sample of 65 third year nursing students was selected from a university faculty of nursing in Scotland. Of 65 questionnaires distributed, 39 were returned, giving a 60 per cent response rate.


RESULTS
Most respondents (n= 24, 62 per cent) were not confident in practical use of the GCS. However, they wanted to improve their theoretical knowledge as well as their practical skills.


CONCLUSIONS
A short training course is needed to make sure that students are able to use the GCS effectively while minimising errors.
Shoqirat
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Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh. nshoqirat@qmuc.ac.uk
D004506:Education, Nursing; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom