Shhh... Sleep Stages & Needs
This stage of sleep is characterized by light sleep, easy arousal, a gradual reduction in vital signs, and a state where the person is still aware enough of their surroundings to answer a phone
What is NREM Stage 1 (or Stage I)
This chronic neurological syndrome is characterized by sudden, uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness and an irresistible desire to sleep at inappropriate times
What is narcolepsy?
To make the most efficient use of a nurse's time and physical energy, an unoccupied bed should be completed in this structured manner
What is completing one side of the bed entirely before moving to the opposite side?
Pain that arises from damage, stretch, or inflammation of internal organs is classified as this specific type of nociceptive pain
What is visceral pain?
This clinical abbreviation refers to an IV infusion system that allows patients to safely self-administer their own pain medication within pre-programmed limits
What is PCA (Patient-Controlled Analgesia)?
Influenced heavily by daylight and darkness cycles, this hormone is released by the brain to induce drowsiness and synchronize the body's circadian rhythm
What is melatonin?
This is the most common of all sleep disorders, presenting as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early
What is insomnia?
Shaking soiled or clean linens open is strictly contraindicated because it causes this primary hazard in the patient's room
What are air currents that carry microorganisms/pathogens into the environment?
This widely accepted theory of pain transmission states that sensory information travels over slow small fibers (which open gates to transmit pain) and fast large fibers (which close gates to block pain) in the spinal cord
What is the Gate Control Theory?
Because of its severe hepatotoxic risk, a nurse must monitor and limit a patient's total daily dose of this common non-opioid pain reliever to 4 grams
What is acetaminophen (Tylenol)?
In comparison to younger adults (who require 7–9 hours per day), older adults generally require this amount of daily sleep
What is less sleep?
This dangerous syndrome involves a temporary cessation of breathing for 10 seconds or longer, occurring 5 or more times per hour during sleep
What is sleep apnea?
To prevent excessive pressure and potential skin breakdown on a bedridden patient's toes, the nurse should make this specific fold at the foot of the bed
What is a toe pleat?
Differing from the pain threshold, this term is defined as the maximum level of pain a person is willing to bear or endure above that threshold
What is pain tolerance?
In the event of severe respiratory depression (less than 8 breaths per minute) caused by an opioid analgesic, the nurse must immediately administer this drug
What is naloxone (Narcan)?
If a frightened 3-year-old child awakens from one of these, the nurse's best intervention is to reassure them and put them back to bed as quickly and quietly as possible
What is a nightmare?
Infants diagnosed with sleep apnea require continuous, close monitoring because they are primary candidates for this fatal condition
What is SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
This specialized bed setup has the top covers rolled or fan-folded to the side, allowing easy transfer of a patient directly from a stretcher
What is a post-op (or surgical) bed?
These naturally occurring neurochemicals, synthesized by the brain, bind to opiate receptors in the nervous system to decrease pain perception and make a person feel better
What are endorphins?
This non-invasive, non-opioid device delivers low-voltage electrical impulses to skin electrodes for muscular pain, but is strictly contraindicated for patients with pacemakers, Afib, previous MI, or pregnancy
What is a TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit?
This non-invasive diagnostic tool is a daily, detailed account of sleep/wake patterns, food/beverage intake, and medications kept by the patient over a 2-week period
What is a sleep diary?
Sleep walking (somnambulism), bed wetting (nocturnal enuresis), and teeth grinding (bruxism) are non-life-threatening sleep disturbances categorized under this term
What are parasomnias?
Most patients are most comfortable when the environmental room temperature is maintained within this Fahrenheit range
What is 68°F to 74°F
This diagnostic sign occurs when a patient experiences sharp pain in their calf upon passive dorsiflexion of the foot, which may indicate a deep vein blood clot
What is a positive Homan's Sign?
Often ordered post-childbirth or after rectal surgery, this specialized warm water bath flushes the perineal area to reduce localized swelling and pain
What is a sitz bath?