When evaluating a patient with AMS, you should check for:

Using the AEIOU-TIPS mnemonic is a comprehensive approach to evaluating a patient with altered mental status (AMS). This mnemonic serves as a systematic framework to help healthcare providers consider various underlying causes of AMS by breaking them down into specific categories:

• Alcohol (and other substances)

• Epilepsy (seizures)

• Insulin (both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia)

• Overdose (or underdose of medications)

• Underlying medical conditions (such as infections, metabolic disorders)

• Trauma (including head injury)

• Infection (like meningitis or sepsis)

• Psychiatric disorders

• Stroke (or transient ischemic attack)

By utilizing this mnemonic, you can ensure a thorough assessment that encompasses a broad range of possibilities for the patient's AMS rather than focusing on just one aspect.

In contrast, checking vital signs and hydration levels, while important, does not provide the same level of comprehensive assessment, as it only focuses on a narrow portion of potential causes. Solely considering neurological history limits the evaluation and might overlook other critical medical issues. Lastly, evaluating blood glucose levels