Why is Delirium a Concern for ICU Nurses?
The inability of the critically ill intubated patient to communicate verbally makes it difficult to assess for delirium. Due to the difficulty in assessing and identifying delirium in ICU patients, delirium goes largely unrecognized. Delirium has traditionally been thought of as a normal, temporary condition with few long-term consequences, so focus on delirium as a high priority for the safe care of patients has not been emphasized. Delirium in now believed to affect approximately 50% of critically ill patients and 50% to 80% of ventilated patients. Assessment of delirium has been difficult because, until 2001, there where no published assessment tools for the nonverbal, intubated patients. Many of the medications that are provided to patients in order to treat their underlying disease process may also contribute to the development of delirium. The leading cause of delirium in the critically ill patient includes many of the medications given to the ICU patients to treat their underlyi
