Agitation

Also Consider:  Behavioral Disturbance, Dehydration, Delirium, Fever, Mood Change, Seizures, Weakness (General)

Please choose the most appropriate Situation:

Behavioral Disturbance

• Verbal Aggression:  yelling, cursing, threatening statements

• Physical Aggression:  hitting, kicking, spitting, biting, scratching

• Socially inappropriate: disrobing, wandering, intrusive, elopement attempts, voiding in inappropriate places, smearing stool, stealing, repetition

• Refusal of care or assistance, uncooperative, falls

Delirium

• Sudden change in level of consciousness: alert, lethargic, stuporous, comatose

• Sudden change in cognition: orientation, memory, confusion, disorganization

• Decreased attention, "in his own world"

• New altered sleep/wake cycle

• New or worsened hallucinations or delusions

• New or worsened  sundowning, restlessness

• The patient may otherwise appear ill

Mood Change

• Change in emotions, feelings

• Expressions of depression, guilt, sadness, crying

• Loss of interest

• Expressions of anxiety, nervousness, fear, panic, worry