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Updated: May 6, 2026

SECONDs Administration Guidelines: A Fast Tool to Assess Consciousness in Brain-injured Patients
Published on: February 6, 2021
Delirium in the brain-injured patient
Therese Gion1, Anne Leclaire-Thoma
1Nursing Quality and Safety, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, WI, USA.
Purpose:
To differentiate between expected behavior of a newly brain-injured person and an episode of delirium.
Methods:
This article reviews the different types of delirium and predisposing risk factors that place patients at risk for developing delirium.
Findings:
This case study illustrates how delirium can mimic expected behaviors seen in patients with traumatic brain injuries and emphasizes the importance of assessing for risk factors of delirium.
Conclusions:
Clinicians can easily misdiagnose delirium. Nurses should assess every patient for signs and symptoms of delirium, using a standardized tool, such as the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) or Cognitive Test for Delirium (CTD).
Clinical Relevance:
Improved education on the risk factors for and symptoms of delirium is necessary for the rehabilitation nurse to ensure early diagnosis and treatment of this potentially life-threatening condition.
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