A client has been admitted to the psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of narcolepsy. Which client statement would the nurse interpret as reflecting this condition?
A) "Sometimes I fall asleep when I'm driving my car home from work."
B) "I often have brief periods of intense excitement when going to sleep, and my legs won't hold still."
C) "I lie there and worry all night, and it keeps me awake. I just can't relax."
D) "I think my sleep pattern is messed up because I took sleeping pills when I was younger."
Ans: A
The overwhelming urge to sleep is the primary symptom of narcolepsy. This irresistible urge to sleep occurs at any time of the day, regardless of the amount of sleep the patient has had. Falling asleep often occurs in inappropriate situations, such as while driving a car or reading a newspaper. These sleep episodes are usually short, lasting 5 to 20 minutes, but may last up to an hour if sleep is not interrupted. Individuals with narcolepsy may experience sleep attacks and report frequent dreaming. They usually feel alert after a sleep attack, only to fall asleep unintentionally again several hours later. Excitement with leg restlessness, worrying, an inability to relax, and the use of sleeping pills are not associated with narcolepsy.
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