Delirium em unidade de terapia intensiva: contribuições da enfermagem à luz da teoria do cuidado transpessoal

Abstract

Objective: Analyze the nursing strategies used in the prevention and management of delirium in patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), in the light of Jean Watson's Transpersonal Care Theory. Methods: This is an integrative literature review, with a qualitative approach and a descriptive character. The search was carried out in the databases Virtual Health Library (VHL) and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), using descriptors related to delirium, intensive care units, nursing theory and nursing. Articles published between 2021 and 2026 were included, available in full, in Portuguese, English and Spanish. After applying the eligibility and selection criteria according to PRISMA's recommendations, the final sample consisted of 18 studies. Results: Studies have shown that delirium is a frequent multifactorial condition in critically ill patients, associated with clinical, environmental and psychosocial factors. The role of nursing in early identification, continuous monitoring and implementation of non-pharmacological interventions, such as cognitive reorientation, therapeutic communication, sleep promotion, environmental adequacy, early mobilization and family participation, was highlighted. In addition to contributing to the reduction of the incidence and duration of delirium, these strategies favored the humanization of assistance, emotional comfort, the preservation of dignity and the strengthening of the therapeutic bond. It was also observed that such practices present approximations with the principles of Transpersonal Care by valuing the integrality, subjectivity and human dimensions of care. Conclusion: Nursing strategies for the prevention and management of delirium in ICU transcend the traditional biomedical model, incorporating interventions that include clinical, emotional, relational and environmental aspects. In the light of the Theory of Transpersonal Care, it is evident that nursing plays a fundamental role in the promotion of integral, humanized and person-centered care, contributing to better clinical outcomes and to the qualification of critical patient care.