Delirium Prevention in Acute Care Telemetry: An Evidence-Based Practice Project

Delirium among hospitalized patients is a common but largely preventable condition resulting in poor outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Research suggests that addressing the nursing knowledge gap regarding delirium and implementing prevention tactics can help prevent delirium from developing.

This evidence-based practice project aimed to reduce the incidence of delirium through early identification of delirium development and implementation of tailored nursing interventions.

A pre-survey was distributed to assess the nursing staff's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding delirium. Education was developed based on survey results and tailored to address knowledge gaps and barriers to implementing existing delirium prevention tactics. The education was delivered in various formats and focused on delirium risk factors and the early implementation of evidence-based delirium prevention strategies. The education reinforced the clinical nurses' process of ordering and implementing a delirium prevention bundle and sleep promotion orders while also integrating new knowledge on risk factors and hallmarks of delirium.

Clinical nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported behaviors showed improvement in the post-implementation survey. Delirium rates were reduced by 11.8%. After delirium developed, the patients' length of stay was reduced by 0.75 days.

Proactive, preventative measures can improve clinical outcomes and trajectories related to delirium. Therefore, continuing nursing education on delirium prevention strategies can improve patients' health outcomes in the acute care setting.