title: Nurses' evaluation of the Confusion Assessment Method: a pilot study.
abstract: Delirium is frequently overlooked in hospitalized adult patients of all ages. Because nurses spend significant amounts of time with patients, the nursing assessment is vital to the identification of delirium. This pilot study investigated nurses'evaluation of the Confusion Assessment Method related to ease of use and helpfulness in identifying delirium in adult patients on two hospital units. Delirium rates are reported for patients across all shifts for 1 month. The majority of nurses found the Confusion Assessment Method to be an effective, user-friendly instrument for the assessment of patients' cognitive status over time.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Waszynski
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Petrovic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003221:Confusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors