Question

The nurse and a client are discussing possible behaviors that might be interfering with the client's ability to fall asleep. Which of the following assessment questions is most likely to identify possible problems with the client's sleep routine that possibly are contributing to the difficulty?

A. "When do you usually retire for the night?"
B. "What do you do to help yourself fall asleep?"
C. "How much time does it usually take for you to fall sleep?"
D. "Have you changed anything about your presleep ritual lately?"

Answer 1

The best question to identify problems with a client's sleep routine is "Have you changed anything about your presleep ritual lately?" because it directly targets the client’s habits before bed which can impact sleep hygiene and the ability to fall asleep.

Step-by-step explanation:

The assessment question most likely to identify possible problems with the client’s sleep routine that possibly are contributing to the difficulty in falling asleep is D. "Have you changed anything about your presleep ritual lately?" This question directly addresses the client’s habits and routines before bed, which are key components of good sleep hygiene. An effective sleep routine contributes positively to the ability to fall asleep by creating an association between certain activities and sleep, making it easier to transition from wakefulness to sleep.

One of the recommendations for people suffering from insomnia is to spend less waking time in bed. This is because the bed should be associated primarily with sleep; if someone spends a lot of waking time in bed, the brain may no longer associate the bed with sleep. Inconsistent bedtimes and poor sleep hygiene are often implicated in sleep disturbances. Examining and improving those can better regulate one’s circadian rhythm and improve the ability to fall asleep.