A nurse is assessing a client who has delirium as a result of sepsis. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply)

Choice A rationale: Delirium often involves rapid, pressured, or incoherent speech rather than slow speech. Slowed speech and movement are more commonly associated with depression or the late stages of dementia rather than acute delirium. Choice B rationale: Rapid mood changes, or emotional lability, are hallmark signs of delirium. A client may fluctuate quickly between fear, anger, anxiety, or euphoria as their mental state shifts due to the underlying systemic infection. Choice C rationale: Hallucinations, particularly visual or tactile ones, are frequent manifestations of delirium. These sensory perceptions occur without external stimuli and contribute to the client's confusion, agitation, and overall distorted reality during the acute episode. Choice D rationale: Delirium is characterized by a fluctuant and altered level of consciousness. This distinguishes it from dementia, where the level of consciousness typically remains stable and unaltered until the very late stages of the disease. Choice E rationale: Restlessness and agitation are common psychomotor disturbances in delirium. The client may pull at IV lines, attempt to climb out of bed, or exhibit constant purposeless movement due to disorientation and increased autonomic activity.