Delirium develops in a 78-year-old man recovering from...

Name: Problem 1, Chapter 31: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Evidence-Based Concepts, Skills, and Practices
Uploaded: 2023-10-19T05:06:02-08:00
Duration: 2 min 53 s
Channel: Asma Venkitta
Description: Delirium develops in a 78-year-old man recovering from emergency hip surgery. He seems to be hallucinating and is mildly confused. Which of the following would the nurse do first? a. Loosely apply a vest restraint. b. Obtain an order for haloperidol. c. Arrange for an unlicensed assistant to sit with the client. d. Move the client to a room close to the nurse's station.

Delirium develops in a 78-year-old man recovering from emergency hip surgery. He seems to be hallucinating and is mildly confused. Which of the following would the nurse do first? a. Loosely apply a vest restraint. b. Obtain an order for haloperidol. c. Arrange for an unlicensed assistant to sit with the client. d. Move the client to a room close to the nurse's station.

Delirium develops in a 78-year-old man recovering from emergency hip surgery. He seems to be hallucinating and is mildly confused. Which of the following would the nurse do first?
a. Loosely apply a vest restraint.
b. Obtain an order for haloperidol.
c. Arrange for an unlicensed assistant to sit with the client.
d. Move the client to a room close to the nurse's station.

Key Concepts

Patient Safety and Environmental Modification

Ensuring patient safety is a central concern when managing delirium. This involves modifying the patient's environment to reduce risks of injury, such as moving the patient to an area that allows for closer supervision and rapid response, thereby helping to prevent falls or self-harm while also facilitating continuous monitoring of the patient’s condition.

Non-Pharmacological Interventions

Non-pharmacological interventions are first-line strategies in managing delirium, particularly in cases where the condition might be transient or associated with reversible causes. These strategies include environmental modifications such as providing adequate lighting, reducing noise, ensuring the patient is oriented, and positioning the patient in a location where they can be closely monitored.

Delirium

Delirium is an acute, fluctuating disturbance of attention and cognition that is often triggered by an underlying medical condition, postoperative complications, or various medications. This condition is marked by confusion, disorientation, and sometimes hallucinations, and requires prompt recognition and intervention to prevent further complications.

Postoperative Care in Elderly Patients

Elderly patients undergoing surgery are at a heightened risk for developing complications such as delirium due to factors like anesthesia effects, pre-existing cognitive decline, and postoperative stress. Effective postoperative care involves vigilant monitoring of cognitive status along with other vital parameters to promptly identify and manage adverse conditions.

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