What it means
Part of a mental status check. A client who knows their name, the place, the date or time, and the situation is described as "alert and oriented times 4" (A&O ×4). Orientation to time is usually lost first and to person last. The word has other uses in nursing too: orienting a new client to the room and call light, the orientation phase of a therapeutic relationshipther-uh-PYOO-tik rih-LAY-shun-shipA professional relationship between a nurse and a client that is focused on the client's needs and goals.Full entry , and a new nurse's orientation to a unit.
For the nurse
Ask open questions ("Where are we right now?") rather than yes-or-no ones. Report a client who has become less oriented than their baseline. Help with clocks, calendars and windows.
In a chart
"Alert and oriented ×3; unsure of the reason for admission."
At a glance
| Abbreviations | A&O ×4 (alert and oriented to person, place, time and situation) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | orientación |
| Also written | orientations, oriented |
Related terms
delirium
A sudden state of confusion and poor attention that comes and goes over hours or days.
mental status
A person's state of mind at a given time: how alert they are, what they know and how they think, speak and behave.
cognitive impairment
Trouble with thinking, memory, learning, attention or making decisions that is more than expected for the person's age.
consciousness
The state of being awake and aware of oneself and one's surroundings.
confusion
A state in which a person cannot think clearly, pay attention, remember or know where they are.