Sleep and well-being work hand in hand, and getting good sleep is actually vital to the overall health of an individual as eating healthy and exercising regularly. Think of your body as a factory. Sleep is required to regain energy for physical and mental activities. If an individual can’t sleep, he or she may have insomnia.
Insomnia is a complicated condition and may be temporary or chronic. Short-term insomnia may occur in response to variations in work schedules, overnight stressors, or travel beyond different time zones. Long-term insomnia is linked to substance abuse such as drugs and alcohol, and other factors like chronic pain, chronic depression, obesity, and aging.
Sleep patterns can be affected by the environment, especially in the hospital setting where noise, lighting, frequent monitoring, and treatments are always present. The harm caused by not getting enough sleep can be immediate, so nursing care is crucial. Nurses should be aware of insomnia and how they can help patients to get a good sleep. The focus should be on educating patients with insomnia about its proper management and ways how to avoid such conditions.
Causes
Here are some factors that may be related to insomnia:
- Abnormal physiological symptoms (e.g., hypoxia, dyspnea, neurological dysfunction)
- Aging
- Anxiety
- Chronic stress
- Depression
- Emotional or physical discomfort
- Environmental variations
- Excessive stimulation
- Medications
- Pain
- Substance abuse
Signs and Symptoms
The following signs and symptoms characterize insomnia:
- Awakening earlier or later than desired
- Decreased health status
- Decreased quality of life
- Dissatisfaction with sleep pattern
- General tiredness
- Interrupted sleep
- Irritability
- Lack of energy
- Problems with concentration and memory
- Sleepiness during the day
- Verbal reports of difficulty falling asleep
Goals and Outcomes of Insomnia
The following are the common goals and expected outcomes for Insomnia nursing diagnosis:
- The patient will obtain optimal amounts of sleep as evidenced by a rested appearance, verbalization of feeling rested, and improvement in sleep pattern.
- The patient will have an improved sleep experience.
- The patient will understand the proper use of sleep aids or other medications.
Nursing Assessment and Rationales
This assessment may further assist in identifying changes that may lead to a diagnosis of insomnia or troubled sleep patterns that require action by nursing staff. Insomnia must be addressed in the best way possible to stop it from becoming a chronic problem.
1. Determine patterns of sleep in the past in a normal environment: amount, bedtime routines, depth, length, positions, aids, and other interfering factors.
Each individual has different patterns of sleep. Information about this topic provides baseline data for evaluating means to improve the patient’s sleep.
2. Take note of observations of sleep-wake behaviors. Take down notes on the number of hours the patient is asleep.
This provides baseline data for the evaluation of insomnia.
3. Note physical or psychological circumstances that hinder sleep such as noise, pain, discomfort, urinary frequency, fear, and anxiety.
The patient’s perception of insomnia may differ from objective evaluation.
4. Evaluate the patient’s knowledge of the cause of sleep problems and potential relief measures to facilitate treatment.
The patient may have insights about the existing problems (e.g., anxiety or fear about a certain situation in life). This data will determine the appropriate therapy.
5. Observe and evaluate the timing or effects of medications that can affect sleep.
Following medication schedules that require a lot of attention may affect the sleeping pattern of the patient, especially in the hospital setting.
Nursing Interventions and Rationales
The following are the therapeutic nursing interventions for Insomnia nursing care plan:
1. Educate the patient on the proper food and fluid intake such as avoiding heavy meals, alcohol, caffeine, or smoking before bedtime.
Having full meals just before bedtime may produce gastrointestinal upset and hinder sleep onset. Coffee, tea, chocolate, and colas which contain caffeine stimulate the nervous system. This may interfere with the patient’s ability to relax and fall asleep. Alcohol produces drowsiness and may facilitate the onset of sleep but interferes with REM sleep.
2. Encourage daytime physical activities but instruct the patient to avoid strenuous activities before bedtime.
In insomnia, stress may be reduced by therapeutic activities and may promote sleep. However, strenuous activities may lead to fatigue and may cause insomnia.
3. Encourage the patient to take milk.
L-tryptophan is a component of milk that promotes sleep.
4. Instruct the patient to follow a consistent daily schedule for rest and sleep.
Consistent schedules facilitate the regulation of the circadian rhythm and decrease the energy needed for adaptation to changes.
5. Remind the patient to avoid taking a large number of fluids before bedtime.
This will refrain the patient from going to the bathroom in between sleep.
6. Inhibit the patient from daytime naps unless needed.
Napping can disrupt normal sleep patterns; however, older patients do better with frequent naps during the day to counter their shorter nighttime sleep schedules.
7. Introduce relaxing activities such as warm baths, calm music, reading a book, and relaxation exercises before bedtime.
These activities provide relaxation and distraction to prepare the mind and body for sleep.
8. Tell the patient to write a journal regarding problems before retiring.
Journaling allows the patient to “set aside” problems or any mental activities just before going to sleep.
9. Educate the patient about the use of over-the-counter, herbal, and prescription sleep aids:
These may be beneficial when a patient experiences short-term sleep problems.
- 9.1. Melatonin
Its main job in the body is to regulate night and day cycles or sleep-wake cycles. Older adults seem to tolerate melatonin with minimal side effects.
- 9.2. Antihistamines
Many over-the-counter drugs contain antihistamines that can cause drowsiness, which might help the patient fall asleep for a few nights. These drugs produce anticholinergic side effects that may harm older adults.
- 9.3. Prescription sedative-hypnotics, anti-anxiety drugs
These act through general central nervous system depression and disrupt the normal stages of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and REM sleep. Long-term use may cause daytime drowsiness, rebound insomnia, and increased dreaming when discontinued.
- 9.4. Valerian, chamomile, lavender, kava
Tea made by mixing chamomile and Valerian root together makes an excellent bedtime ritual that facilitates stress relief and relaxation. Chamomile acts to facilitate general relaxation rather than as an actual sleep aid, while Valerian causes drowsiness. Using Valerian together with kava may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Extra carefulness is necessary because some herbal products are not regulated by the FDA.
10. Suggest an environment conducive to rest or sleep.
A lot of people sleep better in a cool, dark, quiet environment.
11. Prevent the patient from thinking about the next day’s activities or any distracting thoughts at bedtime.
Providing a designated time for these concerns allows the patient to “let go” of these problems at bedtime.
12. Suggest the patient get out of bed temporarily and perform a relaxing activity if unable to sleep 30-45 minutes in bed.
The bed is not supposed to be used for watching TV, work, or wakefulness. The brain should associate the bed with sleeping.
13. For patients who are hospitalized:
- 13.1. Eliminate any activities that are not important.
This measure facilitates minimal interruption in sleep or rest. - 13.2. Place the patient in a room away from any distraction or noise such as the nursing station.
The nursing station is often the center of noise and activity. - 13.3. Provide a “Do not disturb” sign in the patient’s room.
It is necessary to alert people in this kind of situation to avoid disruption of sleep. - 13.4. Render bedtime nursing care such as back rub and other relaxation techniques.
These kinds of activities facilitate relaxation and promote the onset of sleep. - 13.5. Attempt to allow for sleep cycles of at least 90 minutes.
Research shows that 60 to 90 minutes are necessary to complete one sleep cycle and that the completion of an entire sleep cycle is beneficial. - 13.6. Educate patients about their sleep requirements.
Most people need at least six hours of sleep for normal memory and brain function. - 13.7. Help the patient understand the main cause of sleeping difficulties.
Misconceptions and myths about sleep exist. Wrong notions about sleep disturbances may cause fear and anxiety.
Recommended Resources
Recommended nursing diagnosis and nursing care plan books and resources.
Disclosure: Included below are affiliate links from Amazon at no additional cost from you. We may earn a small commission from your purchase. For more information, check out our privacy policy.
Ackley and Ladwig’s Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: An Evidence-Based Guide to Planning Care
We love this book because of its evidence-based approach to nursing interventions. This care plan handbook uses an easy, three-step system to guide you through client assessment, nursing diagnosis, and care planning. Includes step-by-step instructions showing how to implement care and evaluate outcomes, and help you build skills in diagnostic reasoning and critical thinking.
![](#wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Ackley-and-Ladwigs-Nursing-Diagnosis-Handbook-An-Evidence-Based-Guide-to-Planning-Care-13th-Edition.jpg)
Nursing Care Plans – Nursing Diagnosis & Intervention (10th Edition)
Includes over two hundred care plans that reflect the most recent evidence-based guidelines. New to this edition are ICNP diagnoses, care plans on LGBTQ health issues, and on electrolytes and acid-base balance.
![](#wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Nursing-Care-Plans-E-Book-Nursing-Diagnosis-and-Intervention.jpg)
Nurse’s Pocket Guide: Diagnoses, Prioritized Interventions, and Rationales
Quick-reference tool includes all you need to identify the correct diagnoses for efficient patient care planning. The sixteenth edition includes the most recent nursing diagnoses and interventions and an alphabetized listing of nursing diagnoses covering more than 400 disorders.
![](#wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Nurses-Pocket-Guide-Diagnoses-Prioritized-Interventions-and-Rationales.jpg)
Nursing Diagnosis Manual: Planning, Individualizing, and Documenting Client Care
Identify interventions to plan, individualize, and document care for more than 800 diseases and disorders. Only in the Nursing Diagnosis Manual will you find for each diagnosis subjectively and objectively – sample clinical applications, prioritized action/interventions with rationales – a documentation section, and much more!
![](#wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Nursing-Diagnosis-Manual-Planning-Individualizing-and-Documenting-Client-Care-.jpg)
All-in-One Nursing Care Planning Resource – E-Book: Medical-Surgical, Pediatric, Maternity, and Psychiatric-Mental Health
Includes over 100 care plans for medical-surgical, maternity/OB, pediatrics, and psychiatric and mental health. Interprofessional “patient problems” focus familiarizes you with how to speak to patients.
![](#wp-content/uploads/2023/01/All-in-One-Nursing-Care-Planning-Resource-E-Book-Medical-Surgical-Pediatric-Maternity-and-Psychiatric-Mental-Health.jpg)
See also
Other recommended site resources for this nursing care plan:
- Nursing Care Plans (NCP): Ultimate Guide and Database MUST READ!
Over 150+ nursing care plans for different diseases and conditions. Includes our easy-to-follow guide on how to create nursing care plans from scratch. - Nursing Diagnosis Guide and List: All You Need to Know to Master Diagnosing
Our comprehensive guide on how to create and write diagnostic labels. Includes detailed nursing care plan guides for common nursing diagnostic labels.
References
Additional references for this insomnia nursing diagnosis.
- Krishnan, P., & Hawranik, P. (2008). Diagnosis and management of geriatric insomnia: a guide for nurse practitioners. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 20(12), 590-599. [Link]
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