Nursing care to prevent delirium in intensive care units: integrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21727/rpu.v16i3.5034Abstract
Introduction: Delirium emerges as a critical problem in Intensive Care Units, in which nurses have a fundamental role in prevention, identifying risk factors early and implementing preventive interventions. Objective: To identify evidence in the scientific literature on nurses' strategies for preventing delirium in intensive care units. Methods: Integrative review that used the MEDLINE/Pubmed, CINAHL and LILACS databases, and the search terms: intensive care units, nursing care and delirium. No time limits were defined. Results: Seven articles that made up the final sample were analyzed after excluding duplicates and applying the eligibility criteria. The results revealed that nursing care is essential in the prevention and monitoring of delirium, highlighting educational actions and intersectoral articulations. The adoption of validated instruments by nurses is crucial, although there are gaps in knowledge about monitoring. Nurses value non-pharmacological disciplines and improvements in support, while the presence of companions and early mobilization are identified as protective factors, highlighting the need for integrated and evidence-based practices. Conclusion: The prevention of delirium in critically ill patients is crucial, highlighting the role of nurses in this care, the presence of companions and environmental management. The use of validated instruments, combined with other approaches, facilitates integrated care, reduces workload and care costs, in addition to opening up opportunities for research in intensive care.
Keywords: Intensive Care Units; Nursing Care; Delirium
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Copyright (c) 2025 Maria Etelvina de Carvalho Sousa, Miriane da Silva Mota, Thayna Mayara de Oliveira Araújo Moura, Francilene Lima da Silva Sousa, Ana Lívia Castelo Branco de Oliveira
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