A client at the sleep disorders clinic tells the nurse, "I have not slept well in years. As a result, I

Question

never feel good.

After all these years, I do not expect things will ever improve or be any different.".
Nursing interventions the nurse should consider implementing include (more than one answer may
be correct)
A. providing instruction in relaxation techniques.
B. advising to use alcohol as a sedative.
C. health teaching regarding factors that influence sleep.
D. counseling to address cognitive distortions.
E. advising to engage in fatigue-producing activities to become overtired.
F. promoting lengthy daytime sleep periods.

Answer 1

A, C, D
Rationale: 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. Option C: Reviewing factors that influence sleep can assist the client to diagnose and remove
barriers to sleep. Option D: Cognitive therapy could be helpful in combating the hopelessness
verbalized by the client. Option B: Alcohol consumption actually disrupts sleep. Option E:
Becoming overtired may be a barrier to nighttime sleep. Option F: Naps may help replace lost sleep,
but lengthy daytime sleep will prevent the client from sleeping well at night.