Effectiveness of a Delirium Prevention Initiative on an Inpatient Neuroscience Unit

BACKGROUND: Delirium frequently develops in hospitalized patients and results increased mortality, longer length of stay, need for transitional care. Neurological are at an risk developing delirium. There is a paucity research on effective prevention strategies this population. PURPOSE: The objectives project were to improve nurses' knowledge confidence delirium prevention, design volunteer program, establish ongoing monitoring continued improvement. METHODS: This study quality improvement using pretest-posttest examine the benefits refocusing care from management prevention. sample included 304 pre 332 post intervention. interventions education nurses recruitment trained volunteers implement nonpharmacological, multicomponent interventions. RESULTS: Forty-eight completed education, 11 recruited trained. was significant increase nursing (z = 3.967, P < .0005) 3.989, .0005). Volunteers visited 54 implemented 99 implementation. CONCLUSION: pre-post provides beginning evidence that preventing treating Trained supported nonpharmacological interventions, but evaluation needed determine impact rates.