Nursing and patients with delirium: a literature review.

OBJECTIVE: This work sought to analyze the scientific production regarding delirium in patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU). SYNTHESIS: Delirium (cognitive alteration) occurs in acute and fluctuating manner in patients in ICU. It is a risk factor for mortality and prolonged stay in ICU. Its diagnosis is derived from an objective assessment with widely disseminated validated instruments, available in Spanish and other languages. Strategies to prevent delirium in ICU are documented. CONCLUSION: Implementation of these strategies to prevent, monitor, and control delirium in patients hospitalized in ICU must be a priority of nursing research in our setting.