Nursing diagnosis – CHRONIC CONFUSION
CHRONIC CONFUSION
DEFINITION
Irreversible, long-standing, and/or progressive deterioration of intel-
lect and personality characterized by decreased ability to interpret
environmental stimuli; decreased capacity for intellectual thought
processes; and manifested by disturbances of memory, orientation,
and behavior
DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS
• Altered interpretation, response to stimuli, and/or personality
• No change in LOC
• Clinical evidence of organic impairment
• Short- and long-term memory loss
• Progressive or long-standing impaired cognition or socialization
RELATED FACTORS
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Korsakoff’s psychosis
• Cerebral vascular accident
• Multi-infarct dementia
• Head injury
ASSESSMENT FOCUS (Refer to comprehensive assessment parameters.)
• Neurocognition
• Role/relationships
• Self-care
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
The patient will
• Remain free of injury caused by confusion.
• Exhibit no signs of depression.
• Maintain weight.
• Have an environment structured for maximum functioning.
• Participate in selected activities to fullest extent possible.
• Receive adequate emotional support.
Family members will
• Discuss strategies to provide care and help patient cope.
• Maintain safety of patient’s home environment.
• Receive information on the options available for long-term care.
• Assist patient to prepare for relocation to long-term care facility.
SUGGESTED NOC OUTCOMES
Client Satisfaction: Safety; Cognition; Cognitive Orientation
INTERVENTIONS AND RATIONALES
Determine: Assess patient’s cognitive abilities and changes in behav-
ior to provide baseline data.
Weigh patient and include instructions for regular weighing as
part of care plan to monitor patient’s nutritional status.
Perform: Take steps to provide a stable physical environment and
consistent daily routine for patient. Stability and consistency enhance
functioning.
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Inform: Teach family members or caregiver strategies to help patient
cope with his condition: Place an identification bracelet on patient to
promote safety; touch patient to convey acceptance; avoid unfamiliar
situations when possible to help ensure consistent environment; provide
structured rest periods to prevent fatigue and reduce stress; refrain from
asking questions patient can’t answer to avoid frustration; provide
finger foods if patient won’t sit and eat to ensure adequate nutrition;
select activities based on patient’s interests and abilities and praise him
or her for participating in activities to enhance his or her sense of self-
worth; use television and radio carefully to avoid sensory overload;
limit choices patient has to make to provide structure and avoid confu-
sion; label familiar photos to provide a sense of security; use symbols,
rather than written signs, to identify patient’s room, bathroom, and
other facilities to help patient identify surroundings; place patient’s
name in large block letters on clothing and other belongings to help
him recognize his belongings and prevent them from becoming lost.
Attend: Encourage family members to watch mental status
assessments to provide a more accurate view of patient’s abilities.
Evaluate patient’s ability to perform self-care activities, including
ability to function alone and drive a car. Safety is a primary concern.
Ask family members about their ability to provide care for patient
to assess the need for assistance.
Project an attentive, nonjudgmental attitude when listening to
them to help ensure that you receive accurate information.
Manage: Assist family members in contacting appropriate community
services. If necessary, act as an advocate for patients within health-
care system to help secure services needed for ongoing care.
Provide family members with information concerning long-term
healthcare facilities. If patient is to be moved to a long-term care
facility, explain the decision to him in as simple and gentle terms as
possible to facilitate comprehension.
Allow patient to express feelings regarding the move to facilitate
grieving over loss of independence. Provide psychological support to
patient and family members to alleviate stress they may experience
during relocation.
Communicate all aspects of discharge plan to staff members at
patient’s new residence. Documenting a discharge plan and commu-
nicating it to caregivers help ensure continuity of care. Interventions
should ensure patient’s dignity and rights.
SUGGESTED NIC INTERVENTIONS
Cognitive Stimulation; Dementia Management; Family Involvement
Promotion; Reality Orientation
Reference
Rader, J., et al. (2006, April). The bathing of older adults with dementia.
American Journal of Nursing, 106(4), 40–48.