Nurse practitioners are well placed to lead in the effective management of delirium

Abstract

Objective: To acknowledge the detrimental impact that delirium continues to have on an individual and at the system level in an Australian acute inpatient setting and highlight the potential role that nurse practitioners can play in evidenced based prevention and management.

Setting: Australian acute inpatient public hospital.

Primary argument: Despite extensive literature and national policy driven initiatives delirium continues to be a neglected iatrogenic condition for elderly people. A local investigation by nurse practitioner candidates in an acute care hospital setting highlights the poor recognition of the problem. Delirium management must be a key part of the scope of practice for the gerontological nurse practitioner.

Conclusions: Recognition and management of delirium is problematic. Leadership and continuity of care using evidence based prevention strategies; accurate diagnosis and treatment are important aspects of the gerontology nurse practitioners’ (GNP) scope of practice.