ABCDEF Bundle: Reducing the Incidence of Delirium
Disciplines
Critical Care Nursing
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Delirium is a sudden and severe change in mental status causing an individual to have impaired orientation, concentration, and attention (Francis & Young, 2021). This diagnosis is very common within the intensive care unit (ICU), which is triggered by many factors including mechanical ventilation and sedation. Even with the addition of evidence-based tools, such as the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) and the Confusion Assessment Method of the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU), units are still experiencing an increase in cases of delirium with sedated patients. The assess, prevent, and manage pain (A), both spontaneous awakening trials (SAT) and spontaneous breathing trials (SBT) (B), choice of analgesia and sedation (C), delirium; assess, prevent, and manage (D), early mobility and exercise (E), and family engagement and empowerment (F) (ABCDEF) bundle performance tool have been newly implemented to some ICUs; however, there is resistance to change. The purpose of this study is to explore the implementation of the ABCDEF bundle in sedated patients to help reduce the incidence of delirium. The study will be conducted on 20 patients that are sedated in the ICU, from which there will be 10 patients in the experimental group who will have the implementation of the ABCDEF bundle to their care. In conclusion, at the end of the study, both groups will be evaluated to measure the number of cases of delirium seen after patients are weaned off sedation. The results from this experiment will help determine whether the implementation of additional tools, such as the ABCDEF bundle, will decrease the risk of delirium in patients receiving sedation.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
Wellstar School of Nursing
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Christie Emerson
Additional Faculty
Melissa Chason, Nursing, mchason@kennesaw.edu
ABCDEF Bundle: Reducing the Incidence of Delirium
Delirium is a sudden and severe change in mental status causing an individual to have impaired orientation, concentration, and attention (Francis & Young, 2021). This diagnosis is very common within the intensive care unit (ICU), which is triggered by many factors including mechanical ventilation and sedation. Even with the addition of evidence-based tools, such as the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) and the Confusion Assessment Method of the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU), units are still experiencing an increase in cases of delirium with sedated patients. The assess, prevent, and manage pain (A), both spontaneous awakening trials (SAT) and spontaneous breathing trials (SBT) (B), choice of analgesia and sedation (C), delirium; assess, prevent, and manage (D), early mobility and exercise (E), and family engagement and empowerment (F) (ABCDEF) bundle performance tool have been newly implemented to some ICUs; however, there is resistance to change. The purpose of this study is to explore the implementation of the ABCDEF bundle in sedated patients to help reduce the incidence of delirium. The study will be conducted on 20 patients that are sedated in the ICU, from which there will be 10 patients in the experimental group who will have the implementation of the ABCDEF bundle to their care. In conclusion, at the end of the study, both groups will be evaluated to measure the number of cases of delirium seen after patients are weaned off sedation. The results from this experiment will help determine whether the implementation of additional tools, such as the ABCDEF bundle, will decrease the risk of delirium in patients receiving sedation.