The assessment of acute confusion as part of nursing care.
Older adults who become acutely confused when hospitalized present challenges to nurses because of their increased care needs and risk for injury. This study evaluated the feasibility of introducing the NEECHAM Confusion Scale as part of usual nursing care as a first step in improving nurses' ability to assess, prevent, and manage acute confusion in hospitalized older adults. By addressing several of the factors that influence adoption and continuation of a new practice, this study found that staff nurses could successfully use the NEECHAM Confusion Scale.
Miller
J
J
University of North Carolina School of Nursing, Chapel Hill 27599, USA.
Neelon
V
V
Champagne
M
M
Bailey
D
D
Ng'andu
N
N
Belyea
M
M
Jarrell
E
E
Montoya
L
L
Williams
A
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D003221:Confusion / Q000451:nursing*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D009737:Nursing Records; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index