| AVPU Level | Level of Consciousness |
|---|---|
| A | Alert. The patient is alert, awake and responds to voice. The patient is oriented to time, place and person. The triage nurse is able to obtain subjective information. |
| V | Verbal. The patient responds to verbal stimuli by opening their eyes when someone speaks to them. The patient is not fully oriented to time, place, or person. |
| P | Painful. The patient does not respond to voice, but does respond to a painful stimulus, such as a squeeze to the hand or sternal rub. A noxious stimulus is needed to elicit a response. |
| U | Unresponsive. The patient is nonverbal and does not respond even when a painful stimulus is applied. |
Source: Emergency Nurses Association, 2000.