Strategies to Improve the Knowledge and Clinical Skills for Recognition and Management of Delirium of Critical Care Nurses

Delirium is common among hospitalised individuals, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). The complications of delirium among critically ill patients can lead to adverse outcomes. Critical care nurses are the frontline professionals providing direct care to critically ill patients. However, critical care nurses in Taiwan did not have adequate training or perform routine delirium assessment in their daily practice. Low awareness of delirium among critical care nurses contributes to a high incidence rate of ICU delirium. Therefore, the overall aim of this doctoral thesis was to develop an ICU-specific delirium care education programme to enhance the knowledge, confidence, competence and clinical performance of critical care nurses in Taiwan.