Prevention of delirium (requires an interdisciplinary approach)
To view the preventative steps, click each trigger or predisposing factor.
Preventative step
- Agitation
- Reduce stress to the patient by providing a safe and quiet environment
- Disorientation
- Provide orientating stimuli (eg, clocks, calendars) that can be seen by the patient. Involve proxies (family, caregivers) and provide information about delirium.
- Dehydration
- Look for clinical signs of dehydration; inspect oral mucous membranes/tongue with longitudinal furrows, tissue turgor/skin folds
- Immobilization
- Mobilize as soon as possible
- Pain
- Ask your patient if he/she
has any
pain
- Visual and hearing impairment
- Provide the patient with eye
glasses or hearing aids, if needed
- Sleep deprivation
- Ensure the patient has uninterrupted sleep
- Psychoactive drugs
- Avoid prescribing
psychoactive drugs
- Tethers
- Avoid use of
bladder catheters, IV
tubes, etc