[Expression as used in journals to describe acute confusional states in intensive care patients]

The language of nursing contains many special expressions which are used daily to describe different care situations. The aim of this study is to identify what expressions are used in the patient records to describe the development of acute confusion (intensive care unit syndrom) among the patients in an intensive care unit, comparing different usages by nurses and doctors to interpret these expressions. Descriptions and opinions about the general condition, awareness and mental status of patients were collected from their records. Twelve of the commonest expressions were chosen, as well as words describing different stages in the development of acute confusion, and the nurses and doctors were requested to write down what the expressions signified to them. The results showed that the expressions most often used, like "restless" (disturbed) and "picky" have been variously interpreted. This may mean that the symptoms of acute confusion are not discovered in time, or that they go completely unnoticed, which will lead to delaying, or neglecting, the implementation of care measures designed to prevent the worsening of the symptoms. Recommendations for coping with this problem include the use of a shared medical mental status, or the adoption by nurses of a common definition of these special expressions.