2014, Cilt 1, Sayı 1, Sayfa(lar) 090-098
The Management of Delirium in Intensive Care Patients and the Responsibilities of Nurses
Leyla ÖZDEMİR
Hacettepe Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi, Ankara, Türkiye
Keywords: Agitation, delirium, nurse, intensive care

Delirium occurring in high prevalence in the intensive care units, increases predisposition of neuro-psychiatric disorders, mortality, morbidity, length of hospital stay and mechanical ventilation duration. Nurse should organize the practice according to the type of delirium while caring process. The patients with hypoactive delirium are at the risks of complications related to long term mechanical ventilation and aspiration, nosocomial pneumonia, pressure ulcers, and venous thromboembolism. However, care interruption and rejection due to disordered thought process, fear, and destructive behaviors occur in hyperactive delirium. Nurse need to handle environmental factors that contribute to development of delirium along with risk factors of the patients. Noise, confusing stimulations, social isolation must be precluded; day light should be supported for the patients in the intensive care units. A clear communication should be ensured for the patient, person-place-time orientation should be provided, circadian rhythm should be sustained with proper environment for sleeping and pain should get under control with analgesics. In addition, it is suggested that unnecessary invasive interventions should get under control in intensive care units for preventing delirium. The management of delirium and nursing practice for delirium in intensive care units were discussed in this article.