Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale

The Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) is a tool used by healthcare providers to assess how alert or sedated a patient is, especially in critical care. It ranges from +4 (very agitated and restless) to -5 (unarousable and unresponsive to stimuli). A score of 0 indicates an alert and calm state. The scale helps clinicians monitor and adjust medications to keep patients comfortable and safe, guiding appropriate sedation levels to prevent distress or over-sedation. It is quick, reliable, and essential for managing patients who require sedation or are at risk of agitation.