Skip to main content
Intended for healthcare professionals
RCNi Plus
NS Student
Learning
Portfolio
Journals
Cancer Nursing Practice
Emergency Nurse
Learning Disability Practice
Mental Health Practice
Nurse Researcher
Nursing Children and Young People
Nursing Management
Nursing Older People
Nursing Standard
Primary Health Care
Events
RCN Nursing Awards
Nursing Live
Nursing Careers and Jobs Fairs
RCNi events calendar
CPD webinars on-demand
Jobs
Organisational subscriptions
RCNi Plus Dashboard
Portfolio
Learning
Journals
Cancer Nursing Practice
Emergency Nurse
Learning Disability Practice
Mental Health Practice
Nurse Researcher
Nursing Children and Young People
Nursing Management
Nursing Older People
Nursing Standard
Primary Health Care
CPD Quizzes
Events
RCN Nursing Awards
Nursing Live
Nursing Careers and Jobs Fairs
RCNi events calendar
CPD webinars on-demand
NS Student
Nursing Jobs
RCN Learn
Menu
Toggle Navigation
Log in
Toggle Search
Search
Log in
Register
Subscribe
Organisational enquiries
Home
About
Journals
Cancer Nursing Practice
Emergency Nurse
Learning Disability Practice
Mental Health Practice
Nurse Researcher
Nursing Children and Young People
Nursing Management
Nursing Older People
Nursing Standard
Primary Health Care
Products and Services
Revalidation
Sustainability
Publish with RCNi
RCNi Discovery
RCNi Plus
NS Student
Learning
Portfolio
Journals
Cancer Nursing Practice
Emergency Nurse
Learning Disability Practice
Mental Health Practice
Nurse Researcher
Nursing Children and Young People
Nursing Management
Nursing Older People
Nursing Standard
Primary Health Care
Events
RCN Nursing Awards
Nursing Live
Nursing Careers and Jobs Fairs
RCNi events calendar
CPD webinars on-demand
Jobs
Organisational subscriptions
RCNi Plus Dashboard
Portfolio
Learning
Journals
Cancer Nursing Practice
Emergency Nurse
Learning Disability Practice
Mental Health Practice
Nurse Researcher
Nursing Children and Young People
Nursing Management
Nursing Older People
Nursing Standard
Primary Health Care
CPD Quizzes
Events
RCN Nursing Awards
Nursing Live
Nursing Careers and Jobs Fairs
RCNi events calendar
CPD webinars on-demand
NS Student
Nursing Jobs
RCN Learn
Analysis
Delirium: when to be worried about confusion, and what to do next
Update for nurses on timely assessment of this common condition in acute settings and long-term care, and why it should be treated as a medical emergency
Nick Evans
Posted 13 March 2023 - 10:51
Related articles
Addressing challenges in the management of long-term conditions in prisons
Nurses have a central role in providing care and support to prisoners from arrival to release
09 May 2024
How nurses can use assessment tools to detect delirium in older people – and manage it
The condition is a medical emergency – but various approaches can guide its nursing care
01 May 2024
Delirium superimposed on dementia: mental health nurses’ experiences of providing care
Knowing patients cannot be reduced to a numerical tool and an integrated approach is needed
26 Mar 2024
Nurses’ experiences of identifying delirium superimposed on dementia
How aesthetic ways of knowing people can enhance patient assessment
01 Nov 2023
5 Most Read Articles
FtP: Yes it must be robust, but does it need to feel so intimidating and long-drawn out?
Why nurses deserve more compassionate, less traumatising treatment by the NMC
10 Jun 2024
Preventing and managing falls in older people: how can I provide evidence-based care?
Falls can be catastrophic, but small changes can make a difference
14 Jun 2024
‘We need to get comfortable talking about racism in the NHS’
Why is it so hard for nurses to talk openly about racial discrimination at work?
27 May 2024
General election: bite-size guide to parties’ promises on health and social care
How the Westminster poll could affect your finances as well as your working life
18 Jun 2024
Using journalling to support nurses’ mental well-being and self-care in challenging...
Why you should read this article: • To enhance your awareness of the mental health benefits...
25 Jun 2024
Journals
Cancer Nursing Practice
Emergency Nurse
Learning Disability Practice
Mental Health Practice
Nurse Researcher
Nursing Children and Young People
Nursing Management
Nursing Older People
Nursing Standard
Primary Health Care
Other RCNi websites
RCNi Learning
RCNi Nursing Careers and Jobs Fairs
RCNi Nursing Jobs
RCNi Portfolio