PROFESSIONAL NURSES ROLE IN MAINTAINING REST AND SLEEP NEEDS IN PATIENTS - Ms. Johncy Charles SLEEP An altered state of consciousness in which the individual’s perception of and reaction to the environment are decreased. It is a cyclical process that alternates with longer periods of wakefulness. This sleep-wake cycle influences and regulates various functions in the body. CIRCADIAN RHYTHM Period of 24 hours Circadian rhythm is the rhythm of certain biological activities that take place over a 24 hour period. The most familiar of them is the sleep-wake cycle. The circadian rhythms are affected by light, temperature, and other internal and external factors. All people have biological clocks that synchronize their sleep cycles. FUNCTIONS OF SLEEP Purpose of sleep still unclear. Some proposed functions of sleep are as follows: Body tissue restoration Release of growth hormone Repair and renewal of tissues Preservation of cardiac function. Reduction of heart rate during sleep Reduction in workload of heart. COMMON SLEEP DISORDERS NURSES ROLE ASSESSMENT Sleep history Health history Physical examination Sleep diary Diagnostic studies DIAGNOSIS Activity intolerance Anxiety Ineffective breathing pattern Impaired comfort Acute confusion Ineffective coping Fatigue Ineffective health maintenance Impaired memory Nausea Ineffective protection Deficient knowledge Sleep Sleep deprivation Disturbed sleep pattern Disturbed thought process PLANNING Develop a plan that provides sufficient energy for daily activities. Planning of specific nursing interventions based on the etiology of each nursing diagnosis. IMPLEMENTATION Health promotion Environmental controls Promoting bedtime routines Promoting comfort Establishing periods of rest and sleep Stress reduction Bedtime snacks Medications as prescribed EVALUATION Observation of duration of client’s sleep. Questions about how the client feels on awakening. Observation of clients level of alertness during the day