Which condition indicates that a client has moved from a state of alertness to a state of reduced responsiveness?

Coma is characterized as a profound state of unconsciousness where an individual shows an extreme reduction in responsiveness to external stimuli and lacks the ability to wake up. In this state, the person is unable to respond even to painful stimuli, does not exhibit voluntary actions, and cannot follow commands, representing a significant shift from alertness to a lack of responsiveness.

In contrast, states like delirium and confusion involve altered mental status but do not reach the same level of unresponsiveness found in a coma. Delirium, for example, typically involves a fluctuating level of consciousness and can include confusion and disorientation but does not completely eliminate responsiveness or awareness of the environment. Similarly, confusion implies disorientation or impaired judgment, reflecting a reduced cognitive function but still preserving some level of responsiveness and awareness.

Alertness, on the other hand, signifies full consciousness and awareness of the surroundings, standing in direct contrast to the state of coma. Thus, when evaluating the conditions described, a coma unmistakably denotes a transition to an significantly diminished state of responsiveness compared to alertness.