Modified Nu-DESC: Modified Nursing Delirium Screening Scale

2019

A five-domain Nu-DESC version that makes the disorientation assessment more explicit. Its apparent accuracy gain was derived exploratorily in the same emergency-department cohort and requires independent validation.

Classification

Episodic assessment Monitoring for new onset delirium

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Tool and original sources

This record describes a method rather than a downloadable bedside form. The main source is linked below.

Original paper

Original paperBrich J, Baten V, Wußmann J, Heupel-Reuter M, Perlov E, Klöppel S, et al. Detecting delirium in elderly medical emergency patients: validation and subsequent modification of the German Nursing Delirium Screening Scale. Internal and emergency medicine. 2019;14(5):767-776. doi: 10.1007/s11739-018-1989-5. PMID: 30483989.
This paper reports the original validation of Modified Nu-DESC. It reported sensitivity of 77.8% and specificity of 84.6% against an independent DSM-5 clinical assessment.
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One DTA study identifiedVersion or adaptation

At a glance

Purpose: Episodic assessment
Population: Adult
Setting: Emergency department
Time: brief routine nurse screen; exact completion time not reported in the validation abstract
Items: 5
Score or threshold: Study-derived modified Nu-DESC classification; use the publication for the exact rule

Format: Modified Nu-DESC preserves the parent scale's five scored domains while adding two standard orientation checks within the disorientation domain. The publication should be used for the full scoring rule; this summary is not a replacement form.

Evidence

Evidence maturityOne DTA study identified

Reported sensitivity and specificity

Headline metric source

Original/source study · 2019 — pmid:30483989

Denominator: Reported source unit: 311 (analysis unit not fully reconciled)
Reference standard: Blinded consultant psychiatrist/neurologist DSM-5 delirium assessment

77.8%

Sensitivity

84.6%

Specificity

Earliest DTA evaluation identified in the current audit; see the linked source and methodological caveats.

More evidence and citation details

Full name: Modified Nursing Delirium Screening Scale
Also known as: modified Nu-DESC, mNu-DESC, Nu-DESC plus orientation items
Related profiles: NuDESC
Evidence summary: derivation-only
Diagnostic-accuracy studies: 1
Reference standard: Blinded consultant psychiatrist/neurologist DSM-5 delirium assessment
Citation: Brich J, Baten V, Wußmann J, Heupel-Reuter M, Perlov E, Klöppel S, Busch HJ Detecting delirium in elderly medical emergency patients: validation and subsequent modification of the German Nursing Delirium Screening Scale Internal and emergency medicine. 2019;14(5):767-776. PMID 30483989

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Information checked: 2026-07-19

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Sources checked 2026-07-29. How profiles are prepared.