Nursing interventions for preventing and managing post-operative delirium in elderly patients.

The occurrence of delirium after a surgical process has been found to be common and of significance, with a high level of dominance in elderly patients. The objective of this study was to examine nursing interventions for preventing and managing post-operative delirium (POD) among elderly surgical patients. A descriptive literature review method was adopted for the purpose of this research for data gathering, analyzing and synthesizing existing research on nursing approaches related to POD mitigation and care. 13 peer-reviewed studies were gathered from databases such PubMed, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate and EBSCOhost. A thematic analysis review was also used to identify recurrent concepts and categorize the main nursing approaches used in clinical practice. This study identified five key areas of intervention, which are pharmacological strategies, non-pharmacological treatments, collaborative management, assessment and monitoring, as well as education and awareness. Non-pharmacological approaches are the most efficacious and low-risk first-line measures, while pharmacological approaches are to be reserved for severe cases and should be combined with nurse-led care. Collaborative work involving families, nurses, therapists, and physicians improves patient outcomes. Education and awareness foster the readiness of healthcare providers and support of the family in early recognition of POD. The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) helps validate and monitor POD occurrence continuously as well as facilitate timely interventions. The study concluded that nurses fulfil a key responsibility in the mitigation and care of POD. Standardized protocols for nursing practices and further research into nonpharmacological strategies are recommended for the optimization of patient care.