Course Summary

Delirium and dementia are the most common causes of cognitive changes in people as they age, but their separate effects, relationship, and interface are often poorly understood. Delirium is characterized by confusion, disorientation, affective and thought disturbances, and dementia involves changes in a person’s memory, thought processes, and social skills, and can severely impair quality of life. It is important for clinicians to be able to differentiate between the diagnosis of delirium and dementia and to determine the proper treatment. Advanced age by itself does not cause a decrease in cognitive and intellectual ability, and neither delirium nor dementia is an inevitable consequence of aging. Many complex factors contribute to the development of delirium and dementia, influencing a patient’s prognosis and treatment outcomes.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• Introduction
• An Overview of Delirium and Dementia: Incidence and Prevalence
  • Incidence and Prevalence
• Dementia: Definition, Diagnostic Criteria, and Etiology
  • Major Cognitive Disorder
  • Mild Cognitive Disorder
• Types of Dementia
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Frontotemporal Lobe Dementia
  • Lewy Body Dementia
  • Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
  • Vascular Dementia
  • Mild Cognitive Impairment and Pseudodementia
• Delirium: Definition, Diagnostic Criteria and Etiology
  • Delirium: Diagnostic Criteria
  • Case Study 1: Elderly Female with Neurocognitive Disorder
• Assessment and Diagnosing of Dementia
  • History and Physical Assessment
  • Collateral Information
  • Laboratory Tests, Imaging Studies, Other Testing
  • Neurological and Psychiatric Assessment
  • Mini-Mental Status Exam
  • Mini-Cog Test
  • Clinical Dementia Rating
  • Montreal Cognitive Assessment
  • Delirium Assessment
  • Physical Assessment and History
  • Laboratory Testing, Imaging Studies, Other Diagnostic Tests
  • Neurological and Psychiatric Assessment
• Dementia Clinical Care and Treatment
  • Communication
  • Neuropsychiatric Behavioral Problems
  • Maintain Safety and Comfort
  • Medication Treatment
• Delirium: A Medical Emergency
  • Case Study 2: Aggression in a Pediatric Case of Delirium
  • Case Study 3: Delirium During Hospitalization
• State Requirements for Continuing Education
• Summary
   

Author

Lindy Beaver, DNP, MSN, CHE, ACNS-BC

Lindy Beaver is an assistant professor at the College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia. She has practiced extensively as a clinical nurse with over nine years as Clinical Nurse Specialist. This included department leadership roles in Emergency Services and Surgical Services and Anesthesia. In addition, Lindy Beaver has more than 25 years promoting evidence-based practice that focuses on quality patient outcomes. During her career, Lindy Beaver has integrated tutoring, mentoring, and professional guidance into her practice for all levels of nursing. She enjoys engaging with clinical staff in personal and professional growth, and her career has exemplified a true passion and  devotion to nursing.