Using Evidence: A Nursing Assessment Protocol for Acute Geropsychiatric Patients

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 20% of the United States population lives with at least one mental health issue. The most common mental illnesses affecting older Americans include anxiety, cognitive, and mood disorders. These patients may exhibit behaviors indicating agitation or anxiety during necessary hospital stays that warrant de-escalation techniques and appropriate medications to help manage emergent symptoms.

This quality improvement intervention was intended to demonstrate enhancement of the nursing assessment and reassessment of patients demonstrating symptoms of agitation and anxiety requiring intervention.

Assessment of the established nursing practice demonstrated compromised patient safety and led to planning and implementation of a new practice standard that incorporated an evidence-based tool. Nurses utilized a protocol that employed the Pittsburgh Agitation Scale to augment documentation of the nursing assessment for patients exhibiting symptoms of marked anxiety and agitation.

Following a 3-month trial, chart audits were completed to assess results of the protocol's implementation. Significant improvement was noted in the nursing assessment process as evidenced in required documentation of nursing assessment and reassessment including use of the protocol.

Implementing standards to guide nursing care can support both patient safety and professional practice.