Date of Award
Summer 2024
Document Type
DNP Executive Summary
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
Faculty Chair
Dr. Laura Walker
Preceptor
Dr. Lakia White
Abstract
Background: Delirium is a common complication within the palliative care community that is preventable. Delirium is a condition characterized by confusion and disturbed thought processes. One to one observation was the facility’s intervention used to prevent delirium. The best intervention is non-pharmacological interventions.
Purpose: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to reduce 1:1 observation hours without increasing patient safety issues.
Methods: The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student educated nursing staff about the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) evidence-based interventions to help decrease delirium. The staff received the ANA interventions form and the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) tool. The DNP student collected data over six-weeks. This was a QI project using a pre/post- intervention design.
Results: The use of the ANA’s delirium prevention strategies did not decrease observation hours. The average number of observation hours increased in 2024. Observation hours were compared at six weeks post-intervention between the previous and current years and between a sister facility.
Conclusion: The QI project did not yield statistical significance as the number of observation hours did not decrease as desired.
Keywords: Delirium or acute confusion, confusion or disorientation, prevention, nonpharmacological interventions, and/or palliative care
Recommended Citation
Finley, Natalyn, "Implementing Delirium Prevention Strategies to Reduce the Need for 1:1 Observation in a Palliative Care Unit" (2024). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 119.
https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/etds_nursing/119
DNP Project Poster
Finley DNP Slide Presentation.pdf (1020 kB)
DNP Slide Presentation