Assessment and prioritization

SPICES

Sleep, Problems eating, Incontinence, Confusion, Evidence of falls, Skin breakdown

A screening framework for the common problems of hospitalised older adults.

What each letter stands for

  1. 1 Sleep disorders
  2. 2 Problems with eating or feeding
  3. 3 Incontinence
  4. 4 Confusion
  5. 5 Evidence of falls
  6. 6 Skin breakdown

How it gets tested

Tested as a recall item in gerontology content, and as which assessment tools (Braden, Morse, CAM) map to its letters.

Quick check: SPICES

One question. Pick an answer to see the explanation.

What does SPICES stand for?

Related terms

Sitting the TEAS or the HESI A2? Find out what you actually know.

Free practice questions for every section of both exams, with an explanation after each answer. No account, no paywall.

Back to the full abbreviation list

Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute), Elsevier, or any nursing program. TEAS® and HESI® are trademarks of their respective owners. Practice questions here are original study material, not the official exams.