Your patient responds only when you rub his sternum. Using the AVPU scale, your patient's level of consciousness is ________.

The patient's response to sternum rubbing indicates a reaction to pain, which signifies that they are not fully alert and do not respond to verbal stimuli. In the AVPU scale, the classification is based on the level of consciousness:

• Alert means the patient is fully aware and can answer questions.

• Verbal indicates that the patient responds to verbal stimuli but may not be fully alert.

• Pain signifies that the patient reacts to painful stimuli, such as rubbing the sternum.

• Unresponsive shows that the patient does not respond to any stimuli—verbal or painful.

Since the patient reacts only to the painful stimulus of rubbing the sternum, it is accurately classified as a "P" for pain, demonstrating that while the patient is not alert or capable of responding to questions, there is still a response present, albeit a limited one.