Nurses' evaluation of the Confusion Assessment Method: a pilot study.

Delirium is frequently overlooked in hospitalized adult patients of all ages. Because nurses spend significant amounts of time with patients, the nursing assessment is vital to the identification of delirium. This pilot study investigated nurses'evaluation of the Confusion Assessment Method related to ease of use and helpfulness in identifying delirium in adult patients on two hospital units. Delirium rates are reported for patients across all shifts for 1 month. The majority of nurses found the Confusion Assessment Method to be an effective, user-friendly instrument for the assessment of patients' cognitive status over time.