2. Learning Objectives
1. Describe normal developmental sleep
changes across the lifespan
2. Identify normal sleep patterns and
common sleep disorders
3. Describe potentially adverse health
outcomes associated with inadequate
sleep
3. 4. Integrate knowledge of sleep when
completing a health assessment,
nursing care plan, and patient
education.
5. Evaluate environmental factors and
describe nursing interventions to
promote sufficient sleep
Learning Objectives
4. What is sleep?
o Sleep is a dynamic and regulated set of
behavioral and physiological states during
which many processes vital to health and
well-being take place.
5. Why is sleep important?
o Sufficient sleep is essential for maintaining
optimal physical health, mental and
emotional functioning, and cognitive
performance.
o Inadequate sleep time and poor quality
sleep interfere with quality of life and
can be hazardous to health
7. Developmental Patterns of Sleep
o All aspects of sleep behavior across the
lifespan demonstrate a large degree of
variability among individuals and across
cultures
o Sleep patterns are shaped by intrinsic biological
processes and psycho-social factors such as
cultural norms, family values, school, and work.
8. Newborn and Infant Sleep
o Newborn sleep has 2 stages;
50% “quiet or non-rapid eye movement
(NREM) sleep” and
50% “active or rapid eye movement
(REM) sleep”
o Total sleep time = 16 to 17 hours / 24 hour
period with frequent awakenings for feeding
and nurturing
9. Children Ages 1-5 Years
o Amount of total sleep time decreases
to ~11 to 13 hours / 24 hour period
o Generally sleep through the night
o Nap during the day as needed
10. Sleep in Middle Childhood
(5-12 years)
o Total sleep time 10-12 hours
o May experience parasomnias
(sleep problems) such as
enuresis (bedwetting),
nightmares,
and sleep walking
11. Sleep in Adolescents
(12-18 years)
o Need ~9 hours of nightly sleep for optimal
health, emotional well being, and cognitive
functioning
o Often experience delayed sleep phase
syndrome …. can’t go to sleep until late at
night and prefer to sleep later in the morning
o Frequently do not get sufficient sleep
12. Sleep in Adulthood
o Generally need 7.5 to 8 hours
of nightly sleep
o Increasing frequency of problems sleeping
including common sleep disorders such as
obstructive apnea, insomnia, and restless
leg syndrome
13. Sleep in Aging Adults
(65+ years)
o Still need ~7 to 8 hours of total sleep time…
may decrease to as little as 6 hours a night
with naps common during the day
o Increased number of nighttime awakenings
o Frequently awaken very early in the morning
o Sleep may be impacted by illness and
medications
14. Assessing Sleep
o Always include questions about sleep
when assessing health status (except in
emergency situations)
o Inquire about number of hours client
generally sleeps (quantity) and how well
he/she usually sleeps (quality).
o Whenever possible, observe (in a hospital
or care facility) and record client’s sleep
patterns
15. Use standardized sleep assessment
tool if possible
o Using a survey to inquire about a
client’s normal sleep patterns
encourages a thorough assessment
including:
– Sleep environment
– Quality of sleep
– Amount of sleep
– Problems associated with sleep
16. If Standardized Assessment is Not
available, use BEARS* Sleep Assessment
as a guide
o B - bedtime problems?
o E - excessive sleepiness during the day?
o A - awakenings at night?
o R - regularity of sleep (number of hours)?
o S - sleep disorders…including sleep apnea
and snoring
o Also, may inquire about lifestyle factors
impacting sleep such as work schedule,
alcohol use, illness, medications, bed sharing
arrangements, etc….
17. Sleep problems can be associated
with many conditions including:
o Stress and environmental
factors
o Pregnancy
o Menopause
o Chronic pain
o Major depression
o Chronic illnesses such as
cancer, cardio-pulmonary
disease, and Alzheimer’s
18. Impaired Sleep and Adverse Health
Outcomes
o Adverse health outcomes resulting from
insufficient sleep include physiological,
behavioral / cognitive, emotional, and/or social
responses.
o Physiological outcomes include increased risk
for obesity, hypertension, and impaired immune
system functioning
19. o Inadequate sleep impacts behavior in children
and adults and may result in impaired daytime
functioning, including decreased school or
work place performance due to decreased
alertness, poor memory, and impaired problem
solving.
o Insufficient sleep may be a factor in sports
related and automobile accidents.
o Not enough sleep may lead to use of caffeine
and other stimulants to maintain wakefulness
Impaired Sleep and Adverse Health
Outcomes
20. Common Sleep Problems
o Parasomnias – include sleepwalking, bed
wetting, nightmares and night terrors (all
common in children), nocturnal sleep related
eating disorders, and bruxism (teeth grinding)
o Sleep disorders – include insomnia, obstructive
sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and
narcolepsy
21. Insomnia
o Defined as trouble falling asleep or staying
asleep
o May be due to stress, anxiety, hormonal
changes, lifestyle, environmental factors,
physical ailments, or psychiatric illness
o May be transient (lasting less than 4 weeks),
short term (1-6 months) or chronic (> 6 months)
22. To Get a Good Night’s Sleep –
Practice Good Sleep Hygiene!
o Maintain a regular sleep / wake schedule
whenever possible … even on weekends and
vacations
o Avoid napping during the day, especially after
3pm. Limit naps to < 1 hour.
o Establish a regular, relaxing bed time routine
23. Guidelines For Better Sleep
o Exercise regularly – but not within 2 hours
of sleep
o Avoid eating large meals just before going
to sleep
o Avoid caffeinated beverages, particularly
after lunch
o Avoid the use of alcohol and nicotine as
these substances can disrupt sleep
24. Environmental Factors Impacting
Sleep
o Light – exposure to light inhibits ability to fall
asleep and bright light in the morning can
shorten sleep
o Noise – traffic, TV, music, phones, and
computers can disturb sleep
o Bed sharing
o Room temperature (too hot or too cold can
inhibit sleep)
25. Good sleep promotes good health
o Assess sleep patterns and
sleeping environment
o Implement nursing interventions
to promote adequate sleep
Editor's Notes
Adapted from Lee, K., Landis, C., Chasens, E., Dowling, G., Merritt, S., Parker.K., Redeker, N., Richards, K., Rogers, A., shaver, J., Umlauf, M., Weaver, T., 2004. Sleep and chronobiology: Recommendation for nursing education. Nursing Outlook, 52, 126-133.
For excellent review of sleep patterns in childhood see http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/children-and-sleep
For examples of sleep assessments see Lee, K., and Ward, T. (2005). Critical components of a sleep assessment for clinical practice settings. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 26:739-750.
http://www.meritsleep.com/Web_Data/bears%20screen%20tool%20(peds)%2020090721.pdf
Owens, J., and Dalzell, V. 2005. Use of “BEARS” sleep screening tool in a pediatric residents’ continuity clinic: A pilot study. Sleep Medicine, 6(1), 63-69.