CH 14 Flashcards
Delirium
a syndrome
that develops over hours or days, fluctuates over the course
of the day and can persist for months. Changes in mental
status involve problems with attention and consciousness
and several or many additional changes, including altered
sleep—wake patterns.
ACUTE CONFUSION CHARACTERIZED
BY SUDDEN AND TEMPORARY CHANGES IN
COGNITION, ATTENTION, MEMORY AND
PERCEPTION
Common precipitating factors for delirium
surgery, infections, serious illness and physical restraints.
most widely used screening tool in LTC and acute care
Confusion Assessment method
Features of deliriuj according to CAM
Acute onset or fluctuating course: change in mental status
from baseline or onset of abnormal behaviours that tend
to come and go or increase and decrease in severity.
Inattention:
Disorganized thinking:
Altered LOC
3 Subtypes of delirium
Hyperactive
Hypoactive
Mixed (fluctuates bwhyper and hypo)
Examples of nursinginterventions to delirium
Provisions of aids to orientation i.e. clock
Environmental modification (noise reduction)
Psychological support
Protomooion of normal sleeping pattern
etc
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Dementia medical term
medical term
that includes a group of brain disorders characterized by a
gradual decline in cognitive abilities (e.g., memory, understanding,
judgment, decision-making, communication) and
changes in personality and behaviour.
How many cases of dementia are alzheimers disease
60-80%
Lewey body ementia
part of a group of disorders called
Lewy body diseases, which also includes Parkinson disease
and Parkinson disease with dementia.
Account for 15-20% of dementia diagnoses
How many Stages of AD
7
Anosognosia,
Anosognosia,
which is the diagnostic term for lack of awareness, is assessed
by having the person who is being evaluated and a
family member or caregiver independently answer questions
related to the person’s behaviours and daily activities
behavioural
and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)
Agitation
Psychiatric symptoms: delusions, hallucinations
e Personality changes,
Mood disturbance
Causes of delirium
UNKNOWN, THOUGHT TO BE
DISTURBANCES IN THE NEUROTRANSMITTERS
WITH MULTIFACTORIAL CAUSES
Predisposing
Things that exist that increase risk for something (age)
Precipitating
More spontaneous risk factors (pain, surgery, contitpation, urinary retention etc.)
3 types of delirium
Hyperactive, hypoactive, mixed
How important is delirium
A medical emergency
Consequences of delirium
Longer hospital stays
Higher rate of LTC residency
Short and long term functional impairment
Development of or worsening of dementia
What can delirium do to dementia
exacerbate it
Nursing assessment for delirium
Assess and treat predisposing factors
Keep individual safe until delirium is resolved