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Printed on 4/21/2026
For informational purposes only. This is not medical advice.
The Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-DESC) is a rapid bedside delirium screen scored by nursing observation. Five domains are each scored 0-2 (disorientation, inappropriate behavior, inappropriate communication, illusions/hallucinations, psychomotor retardation), for a total range of 0-10.
Formula: Nu-DESC total = sum of 5 observed items scored 0-2 each (range 0-10).
Nu-DESC has been validated as a brief bedside delirium screen with practical use in inpatient and perioperative settings.
Higher Nu-DESC scores indicate stronger delirium signal; >=2 is commonly considered screen-positive.
Use for routine inpatient delirium screening, especially when repeat nursing observation is feasible.
Screen performance depends on observation quality and may be affected by communication barriers, sedation, and neurologic comorbidity.
For related assessments, see 4AT, CAM Delirium Screen and CAM-ICU.
Disclaimer: This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about your health.
Rapid delirium screening tool scored 0-12; scores of 4 or more suggest possible delirium.
GeriatricsScreen for delirium using the CAM (Confusion Assessment Method). Gold standard with ~94% sensitivity and ~89% specificity. Requires acute onset + inattention, plus disorganized thinking or altered consciousness.
EmergencyScreen ICU patients for delirium using the CAM-ICU algorithm (acute/fluctuating change, inattention, consciousness, disorganized thinking).
GeriatricsA 10-domain delirium severity scale (0-30) commonly using cutoff around >=13 for delirium signal.