A nurse is collecting data from a client who is experiencing delirium. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Choice A reason: Echopraxia, mimicking movements, is linked to psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, not delirium. Delirium features disordered cognition from physiological causes (e.g., infection), not motor imitation. Scientifically, this lacks relevance to delirium’s acute, fluctuating mental state driven by underlying medical issues.

Choice B reason: Aphasia, a language deficit, stems from brain damage (e.g., stroke), not delirium’s reversible cognitive disruption. Delirium affects attention and awareness, not specific linguistic skills. Scientifically, this is distinct from delirium’s diffuse, temporary confusion tied to systemic or metabolic disturbances.

Choice C reason: Acute onset of confusion defines delirium, a sudden cognitive decline from causes like infection or drugs. It’s reversible with treatment, featuring inattention and disorientation, aligning with scientific criteria as a hallmark symptom distinguishing it from chronic conditions like dementia.

Choice D reason: Inability to read relates to literacy or focal brain injury, not delirium. Delirium impairs global cognition—attention and memory—not specific skills like reading unless confusion interferes indirectly. Scientifically, this isn’t a core feature, as delirium’s impact is broader and transient.