O cuidado ao idoso hospitalizado em delirium na perspectiva de enfermeiras

Abstract

Delirium is considered the most frequent behavioral neurological disorder in hospitalized elderly people. It is also recognized as a public health problem due to its proven association with increased morbidity/mortality, increased possibility of adverse events, high hospital costs and neurocognitive impairment after discharge. The nurse assumes an important role, as the strategies to avoid the occurrence of delirium are closely related to nursing care. This research aimed to: know how nurses identify delirium in hospitalized elderly; to describe how nurses care for the elderly hospitalized with delirium; and knowing the strategies and difficulties encountered by nurses in caring for the elderly hospitalized with delirium. This is a qualitative, exploratory-descriptive field research. Data collection was carried out from August to October 2021, through semi-structured interviews. The study participants were 12 nurses from a general hospital in the midwest region of Rio Grande do Sul. Data were analyzed using Bardin's analysis. The ethical precepts that govern the research were respected, according to Resolution No. 466/12. The research project was approved by the research ethics committee through opinion number 3,920,987. The results of the study made it possible to know how nurses provide care to the elderly with delirium. The tactics used by nurses to identify delirium and to perform nursing care for these elderly were evidenced, in addition to the strategies and difficulties in caring for the elderly hospitalized with delirium. It is concluded that nursing care directed to the elderly in delirium is still incipient, due to the lack of knowledge on this topic, since it is little addressed during the nursing training process. Nurses identify delirium, however, they do not use specific instruments, such as the use of scales. Sometimes, they do not associate the signs and symptoms presented by the elderly with delirium, yet, when performing care measures, they have a greater focus on pharmacological measures for the treatment of delirium instead of non-pharmacological measures. This research indicates that the approach to the health of the elderly as a specific curricular component in nursing education, whether at undergraduate or technical level, is essential to qualify care for the elderly with delirium and their families.