A new patient at the sleep disorders clinic tells the nurse, "I have not slept well in a year, so I never feel good. I do not expect things will ever improve or be any different."

Question

Interventions the nurse should consider include: (Select all that apply.) a. advising use of alcohol as a sedative.
b. counseling the patient to address cognitive distortions.
c. providing instruction in relaxation techniques.
d. health teaching regarding factors that influence sleep.
e. teaching fatigue-producing activities to become overtired.
f. encouraging long daytime naps to compensate for sleep deprivation.

Answer 1

B, C, D
Interventions that could be helpful include teaching relaxation techniques such as meditation or progressive relaxation to relieve the tension that sometimes prevents initiation of sleep. Reviewing factors that influence sleep can assist the patient to diagnose and remove barriers to sleep. Cognitive therapy could be helpful in combating the hopelessness verbalized by the patient. Alcohol consumption actually disrupts sleep. Becoming overtired may be a barrier to nighttime sleep. Naps may help replace lost sleep, but lengthy daytime sleep will prevent the patient from sleeping well at night.