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Behavioral Health
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ICU Psychosis

Prepare nurses to prevent, detect, evaluate, and safely manage delirium and related behavioral changes in critically ill adults.

Critical care nurse calmly assessing attention and orientation in an awake adult ICU patient while monitoring equipment remains visible in the background.
Contact hours
4
Format
Self-paced, online
Last reviewed
Sep 19, 2026

$20.00or included with All-Access

$5 per contact hour · 4 contact hours

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  • No post-test required · unlimited retakes · evaluation and attestation always required

Course Purpose

Prepare nurses to prevent, detect, evaluate, and safely manage delirium and related behavioral changes in critically ill adults.

Continuing Education Credit Designation

This educational activity is credited for 4 contact hours at completion of the activity.

Overview

After this course, the nurse will be able to recognize ICU delirium using a validated assessment process, distinguish its motor subtypes, and identify urgent physiologic, neurologic, toxicologic, and psychiatric causes. The nurse will also be able to implement multicomponent prevention measures, support treatment of underlying causes, use medications cautiously, protect patient dignity and safety, and communicate findings across the care team.

Objectives

Upon completion of this independent study, the learner will be able to:

  1. Differentiate ICU delirium from primary psychosis, dementia, sedation, coma, withdrawal, and acute neurologic disease.
  2. Apply an arousal assessment and a validated ICU delirium screening tool in the correct sequence.
  3. Identify modifiable and nonmodifiable factors that increase delirium risk in critically ill adults.
  4. Implement evidence-based, nonpharmacologic measures to prevent and manage ICU delirium.
  5. Evaluate medication-related benefits and harms when caring for a patient with delirium or dangerous agitation.
  6. Document and escalate assessment findings, suspected causes, interventions, and treatment responses using objective clinical language.

Policy Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the policies of FastCEForLess.com. This course should be used for informational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, prescribe, recommend, or initiate therapies or treatments in any setting. This course is copyrighted by Fast CE For Less, Inc. and may not be replicated, copied, or dispersed without written consent.

Disclosures

Fast CE For Less, Inc. and its authors have no disclosures. There is no commercial support.

Who this course is for:

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, registered nurses, licensed practical or vocational nurses, and other healthcare providers in any setting who want continuing education on ICU Psychosis.

Course outline

10 sections · finish in any order across devices

  1. 1

    Introduction

  2. 2

    Definition of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Psychosis

  3. 3

    Diagnostic Criteria for ICU Psychosis

  4. 4

    Classifications

  5. 5

    Causes

  6. 6

    Symptoms

  7. 7

    Differential Diagnoses

  8. 8

    Treatment Options

  9. 9

    Nursing Considerations

  10. 10

    Conclusion

References

The full reference list is included inside the course, after the Conclusion.

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