NURSING CARE IN THE HUMANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF DELIRIUM IN ADULT ICU PATIENTS

Abstract

Delirium is an acute neuropsychiatric syndrome frequently encountered in Intensive Care Units (ICUs); it is characterized by disturbances in attention, consciousness, and cognition with a fluctuating course, and is associated with higher mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and short- and long-term complications. This study aims to analyze the contributions of humanization-centered nursing care to the prevention, early detection, and management of delirium in critically ill adult patients. It is an integrative literature review involving searches of the SciELO, PubMed, LILACS, and CINAHL databases, selecting studies published between 2024 and 2026. The results indicate that humanized interventions—such as clear communication, reorientation, environmental adaptation, sleep promotion, early mobilization, and family involvement—combined with systematic assessment using validated scales, reduce the incidence and duration of the condition. The study concludes that nursing plays a strategic role in implementing care that values ​​dignity and individuality, proving essential for improved clinical outcomes and patient quality of life. (CARVALHO et al., 2024; GOMES et al., 2025)