Calming the Agitated Patient: Providing Strategies to Support Clinicians

Mulkey, Malissa A.
Munro, Cindy L.

Malissa A. Mulkey, PhD, APRN, CCNS, CCRN, CNRN, is Clinical Nurse Specialist, UNC-REX Hospital, Raleigh, NC; and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN.
Cindy L. Munro, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, FAAAS, is Dean, School of Nursing, Miami University, Coral Gables, FL.

Note: This work was partially funded by an NRSA T32 (NR018407) Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Advanced Training in Self-Management Interventions for Serious Chronic Conditions.

MEDSURG Nursing 30(1):p 9-13, January-February 2021.

Agitation is a symptom of many medical and psychiatric disorders that can manifest along a spectrum of severity. Agitation often delays treatment onset, potentially impacting morbidity and mortality, and may require emergency interventions. Management of acute agitation centers around three main goals: early recognition and treatment of the underlying etiology, rapid control of the behavior, and prevention of harm to the patient and personnel. Nurses should increase use of validated techniques, including frequent and sufficient reality orientation, validation therapy, and strategies that improve the individual's quality of life.