Question

On a 2 week follow-up visit to the health care provider, a 64 year old female postoperative client shares with the nurse that she is having difficulty sleeping and has never had a history of sleeping problems. The nurse shares with the client that:

A. Because of her age, the client should expect to begin having some problems sleeping
B. It may take a while to get used to sleeping in her bed at home after getting used to sleeping on a hospital bed
C. The medications used for anesthesia can disturb sleep cycles for several weeks following surgery
D. She may not be sleeping as well as her partner after being in a bed by herself while being hospitalized

Answer 1

The nurse should inform the client that the medications used for anesthesia can disturb sleep cycles for several weeks following surgery.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should inform the client that the medications used for anesthesia can disturb sleep cycles for several weeks following surgery. After surgery, it takes time for the body to recover and for the effects of anesthesia to wear off completely. Sleep disturbances are a common side effect of anesthesia and can last for weeks or even months. It is important for the nurse to reassure the client that this is a normal part of the recovery process and that the sleep disturbances will likely improve over time.