A psychiatric nurse obtains an initial comprehensive history from a client during a psychiatric admission intake

Question

The nurse notes the following positive findings: chronic fatigue and sense of nonrestful sleep, daytime sleepiness, hypertension, multiple awakenings throughout the night, and snoring. The nurse knows that this constellation of findings is MOST consistent with: a. secondary insomnia
b. nocturnal seizures
c. obstructive sleep apnea
d. uncomplicated adult primary insomnia

Answer 1

C
The client exhibiting chronic fatigue and a sense of nonrestful sleep, daytime sleepiness, hypertension, multiple awakenings throughout the night, and snoring is most like experiencing obstructive sleep apnea. In this condition the tissues of the upper airway relax so profoundly during deep sleep that they collapse and obstruct the flow of air into the lungs. When obstruction is only partial, snoring results, but when complete the client often arouses from sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea may increase a person's risk of developing hypertension, heart disease, and depression.