Innovative Use of the NIDUS Research Hub – Written by: Eva Tabarani, RN, MSN, CPHQ
Eva Tabarani, RN, MSN, CPHQ
Acute change in cognition is a key feature of delirium and the most challenging feature to discern. Information about baseline cognition is not readily available to nurses. This may cause nurses to often miss delirium when present resulting in false negative Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) results. Appreciating baseline cognition and improving delirium detection by nurses remains vital so that etiologies can be addressed.
I would like to share my experience of how I came to know about the NIDUS website and how it has been valuable for my project. I initially faced challenges in finding a validated survey related to delirium detection and assessment, and I found my search in various databases to be time-consuming. My advisor suggested using the NIDUS delirium bibliography to access specific content related to delirium. I followed my advisor’s advice and explored the NIDUS hub. Here, I was able to create a refined list of content that is directly aligned with my project’s needs and objectives. The search in the resource browser enabled me to find key information quickly and efficiently. I instantly created a list of study contacts from the NIDUS resources and contacted them for advice. Additionally, I used the search engine in the delirium bibliography to find more references from the same author, which is a practical way to gather comprehensive information on the topic. In addition to the bibliography, I used other NIDUS resources, such as watching lectures from experts, which contributed to my understanding of how to educate nurses on delirium screening. My positive experience with the NIDUS website highlights how collaboration and access to specialized knowledge can significantly benefit research in specific areas of healthcare.