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Consult: Psychiatry for Agitation

Call the on-call psychiatry resident for medication recommendations for an agitated, delirious patient, and be challenged to confirm you've exhausted non-pharmacologic options first.

  1. 1
    Briefing
  2. 2
    Simulation
  3. 3
    Feedback

How This Works

This is an interactive phone call simulation. You'll speak with Dr. Davis in a realistic clinical communication scenario.

1. Start Call

Click "Start Call" when you're ready. Speak naturally as you would on a real call.

2. Have the Conversation

10 minutes to complete the call. The AI responds in real-time to what you say.

3. Get Feedback

End the call when finished. You'll receive AI-powered feedback on your communication.

💡 Tip: Speak clearly and at a natural pace. If you need a moment to think, it's okay to pause briefly - just as you would in a real conversation.

Briefing Details

Consult Briefing

Your Objective

You are the medical resident on the floor. An elderly patient with delirium has become agitated and is pulling at their IV lines, creating a safety risk. Your goal is to call the on-call psychiatry resident, Dr. Davis, for recommendations on chemical restraint. Be prepared to be challenged on what non-pharmacologic interventions you have already tried.

Patient: Arthur Smith, 85M

  • Room: 1402
  • Code Status: Full Code

Case Summary & Data

History: 85M with dementia and BPH admitted for a UTI. He has been delirious since admission, but has now become acutely agitated over the last hour.

Current Situation: He is yelling, attempting to get out of bed, and has pulled out one of his peripheral IVs. The nurse is concerned he will harm himself. You have already attempted verbal redirection without success. There is no family at the bedside currently.

The Clinical Question

You have an agitated, delirious patient who is a danger to himself, and initial attempts at verbal de-escalation have failed.

Your "Ask": Your specific request for the psychiatry resident is: "I have an agitated patient with delirium who is a safety risk. I am calling for recommendations for PRN medications for agitation."

Learning Objectives

Optional prep details

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Optional Pre-Call Knowledge Check

Optional self-check before you start

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After completing this scenario, you will be able to:

  • Articulate a clear and concise clinical question to a consultant using the SBAR framework.
  • Justify the need for pharmacologic intervention by detailing the prior use and failure of non-pharmacologic strategies for managing delirium-associated agitation.
  • Synthesize patient data to form a preliminary assessment of delirium causing a safety risk.

Which of the following is the MOST critical first step when managing a newly agitated, delirious elderly patient?

When structuring your SBAR for the psychiatry consult, which information is most crucial to include in your 'Background'?

In an elderly patient with delirium, which class of medication is generally AVOIDED due to its potential to worsen confusion and cause paradoxical disinhibition?