Delirium in Intensive Care Unit Patients and Care in the Accordance with the Model of Living

Delirium is a transient organic mental syndrome generally characterised by sudden onset of cognitive disturbances, altered level of consciousness, impaired attention, increased or decreased psychomotor activity and irregular sleep-wake cycles. The studies indicated that delirium is associated with prolonged hospital stays, increased morbidity and mortality and loss of function for the intensive care unit patients. Intensive care unit nurses are key position for assessment of delirium problem, implementation of preventive interventions and treatment of delirium. In this article, nursing care of patients who developed delirium in the intensive care unit is examined in accordance with the nursing process that based a nursing model.