What it means
Used to describe a sleeping or drowsy client's level of consciousness, as in "easily rousable to voice" or "rousable only to painful stimulus." How easily a client can be woken, and how well they stay awake, are key parts of sedation and neurological checks.
For the nurse
When a client on opioids or sedatives is hard to rouse or falls asleep in the middle of talking, hold further doses, check breathing and oxygen saturation, and report it at once.
At a glance
| Also written | arousable |
|---|
Related terms
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.
sedation
A calm, relaxed or sleepy state brought on by drugs, or the use of drugs to cause it.
oversedation
A level of drowsiness deeper than intended from opioids or other sedating drugs.