abstract: A purposive sample of ten nurses working in an orthopaedic unit in eastern Canada were interviewed in order to explore their experiences of caring for older people suffering from acute confusion. All subjects reported that acute confusion was a 'regular occurrence', and that it is much worse in the evening and at night. The three strategies used for coping when patients became unmanageable and disruptive were sitters, medication and physical restraint. The latter was regarded as a last resort and would only be implemented with the permission of the patient's family.
authors.affiliation: Cambridge School of Health Studies.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams