Question

A client tells the nurse about working out with a personal trainer and swimming three times a week in an effort to lose weight and sleep better. The client states that it still is taking hours to fall asleep at night. Which action should the nurse implement?

A. Advise the client that lifestyle changes often take several weeks to be effective
B. Encourage the client to exercise everyday to eliminate bedtime wakefulness
C. Ask the client for a description of the exercise schedule that is being followed
D. Determine the amount of weight the client has lost since increasing activity

Answer 1

The nurse should ask the client for a description of their exercise schedule to assess its possible impact on sleep quality. The correct option is C .

Step-by-step explanation:

When a client tells the nurse about working out with a personal trainer and swimming three times a week in an effort to lose weight and sleep better, but still takes hours to fall asleep at night, the nurse should implement the action of asking the client for a description of the exercise schedule that is being followed (C).

By gathering information about the client's exercise schedule, the nurse can assess whether the timing or intensity of the exercise might be contributing to the difficulty falling asleep. It is important to consider that exercise can have varying effects on sleep depending on factors such as the time of day, the type of exercise, and the individual's overall health.

The review of published scientific research suggests that exercise generally improves sleep for most people and helps sleep disorders such as insomnia. However, the optimum time to exercise for sleep benefits is four to eight hours before bedtime. Heavy exercise shortly before bedtime may actually interfere with sleep. Therefore, by understanding the client's exercise schedule, the nurse can provide appropriate advice and recommendations to improve sleep quality.