In this episode of Beyond the Bedside, we break down Chapter 45: Sensory Functioning and turn a huge theory chapter into clinical sense you can actually use with real patients. We start with how sensing the world really works—stimulus, receptors, transmission, perception, and the reticular activating system—then connect that to levels of arousal, sensoristasis, adaptation, and states like confusion, delirium, dementia, stupor, and coma. From there, we dive into sensory deprivation, sensory overload, ICU psychosis, and sensory deficits using real case stories: Ori, the ventilated trauma patient who becomes confused in the ICU; Muriel Hao, who cannot rest because of constant beeping alarms; and Dolores and Anthony Pirolla, navigating macular degeneration, new hearing loss, and growing social isolation together.
You will learn how development, culture, stress, chronic illness, meds, and aging shape sensory function, including presbycusis, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic neuropathy, and COVID-related smell and taste changes. We walk step-by-step through focused sensory assessment, priority nursing diagnoses, and high-yield interventions for patients with reduced vision, hearing, confusion, and unconsciousness, plus practical teaching tips to prevent sensory deprivation and overload in every setting. We also hit health literacy for hearing disorders, safety and home “sensory proofing” for older adults, and evidence-based tools like music therapy. You will finish with NCLEX-style questions and full rationales so you can recognize sensory problems quickly, protect your patients from injury and isolation, and create calmer, more healing environments at the bedside.
