Nurses' management of older patients with post-anesthesia delirium: A Q methodology approach

Purpose: This is an analysis of the experiences nurses in Post Anesthesia Care Units (PACUs) caring for older patients with emergence delirium using Q-methodology. Methods: The Q-methodology, which used to explore and understand human subjectivity, was applied. Thirty who had providing nursing after surgery a PACU participated this study. Results: study revealed three factors regarding frame reference detecting managing patients' delirium: “detect deviant changes leading instability”, “focus on patient’s degree cognitive recovery within framework time”, “awareness possible clues based underlying disease(s)”. Conclusion: These findings are expected be utilized as basis more practical accessible nurse education that reflects nurses’ subjective viewpoints explained by identified factors.