alert and oriented

English

Alternative forms

• A&O

Phrase

alert and oriented

1. (medicine) A medical notation commonly used in emergency situations or with dementia patients when assessing a person's level of consciousness and awareness, providing a first impression as to whether a person is cognitively impaired or able to make decisions for themselves; can be determined in tandem with an A&O assessment.

   Synonym: conscious and oriented

   Coordinate term: A&O assessment

   Hyponyms: alert and oriented x1, alert and oriented x2, alert and oriented x3, alert and oriented x4

Further reading

• 2025. Heerema, Esther. "What 'Alert and Oriented' Means in Emergency and Dementia Care" verywellhealth.com.