A patient, being admitted to the intensive care unit, is demonstrating signs of impaired mentation. Which of the following should be assessed for first in this patient?
1. drug overdose
2. hypovolemic shock
3. cerebral infection
4. ischemic stroke
4
Rationale: Even though there are many causes of impaired mentation in patients who have not sustained a head injury, ischemic stroke has been found to be the most frequent cause of impaired mentation on admission to the intensive care unit. The patient should be assessed first for an ischemic stroke. The other choices can be assessed afterwards in the event that the patient did not experience a stroke.
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