AUTHOR'S NOTE

"Confusion" is a term nurses use frequently to describe an array of cognitive impairments. "Identifying a person as confused is just an initial step" (*Rasin, 1990; *Roberts, 2001; Norris, 2019). Confusion is a behavior that can indicate a disturbance in function/metabolism (neurological, cardiovascular, endocrine, renal, pulmonary) or pathology, such as infection, hypoglycemia, or changes in usual routine or surroundings in the elderly. Acute Confusion is a symptom/sign of a collaborative problem, not a nursing diagnosis.

The addition of Chronic Confusion to the NANDA-I list provides the nurse with more diagnostic clarity than Confusion or Disturbed Thought Processes. Acute Confusion is a symptom of an acute pathophysiologic event, such as a cerebrovascular event, drug related, or urinary tract infection and has an abrupt onset with fluctuating symptoms, whereas Chronic Confusion describes long-standing or progressive degeneration. Disturbed Thought Processes is also a disruption of cognitive processes; however, the causes are related to coping problems or personality disorders.