Mr. Gutteman, a 70-year old male was brought into the ER in a comatose state and has yet to come out of it. it is obvious that he suffered severe head trauma- his scalp was badly lacerated and he has an impacted skull fracture. his initial lab tests (blood and urine) were within normal limits. his fracture was repaired and the following orders(and others) were given:
check every hour and record; spontaneous behavior, level of responsiveness to stimulation, movements, pupil size and reaction to light, speech, and vital signs.
turn patient every 4 hours and maintain meticulous skin care and dryness.
1. explain the rationale behind these orders.