Care of the unconscious patient: a complementary perspective

The literature associated with the care of the unconscious patient tends to concentrate on aspects of care relevant to the maintenance of the patient's equilibrium within a medical or surgical context (Atkinson 1970, Roper 1973, Ayres 1974, Burrell & Burrell 1977, Rhodes 1977). The importance of maintaining such an equilibrium is beyond dispute, but the difficulty of understanding what unconsciousness is becomes a contributory factor towards inhibiting the nurse from extending the same totality of care she would offer the conscious patient, to one who is unconscious. The writers draw parallels between features of the world of 'booming, buzzing confusion' often postulated for the neonate, and those of the unconscious patient. They claim that despite perceptual and other similarities, the framework of care instituted for the unconscious patient lacks the social dimension normally expected to be available to the infant. Care of the unconscious patient suffers from fragmentation because of its emphasis on the physical.