Varcarolis Chapter 19: Sleep-Wake
Disorders
A nurse cares for these four patients. Which patient has the highest risk for problems with sleep
physiology?
a. Retiree who volunteers twice a week at Habitat for Humanity
b. Corporate accountant who travels frequently
c. Parent with three teenagers
d. Lawn care worker - ANSANS: B
The corporate accountant is likely to work long hours and have significant stress associated with
work demands. Compounded by travel, these factors are likely to precipitate unstable sleep
patterns and inadequate sleep time. The retiree and lawn care worker engage in physical
activity during the day, which will promote natural fatigue and sleep. The parent's sleep is
unlikely to be disturbed; teenagers sleep through the night.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
REF: Page 365 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance
Which comment is most likely from a patient with chronic sleep deprivation?
a. "I turn on the television every night to get to sleep. I set the timer so it goes off in 30 minutes."
b. "I have diarrhea frequently and not much energy, so I stay at home most of the time."
c. "I only sleep about 7 hours a night, but I know I should sleep 8 or 9 hours."
d. "When my alarm clock goes off every morning, it seems like I am dreaming." - ANSANS: B
A discrepancy between hours of sleep obtained and hours required leads to sleep deprivation.
Adults with less than 6 hours of sleep per night often suffer from chronic sleep deprivation.
Common complaints include poor general health, physical and mental distress, limitations in
ADLs, depressive or anxious symptoms, and pain. One distracter indicates a problem with sleep
hygiene [television]. The remaining distracters do not indicate a problem.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Page 365-366 | Page 373 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity
The nurse provides health education for an adult experiencing sleep deprivation. Which
instruction has the highest priority?
, a. "It's important to limit your driving to short periods. Sleep deprivation increases your risks for
serious accidents."
b. "Sleep deprivation is usually self-limiting. See your health care provider if it lasts more than a
year."
c. "Turn the radio on with a soft volume as you prepare for bed each evening. It will help you
relax."
d. "Three glasses of wine each evening help many patients who suffer from sleep deprivation." -
ANSANS: A
Safety is the highest priority for this patient. Sleep deprivation causes psychomotor deficits.
Driver drowsiness and fatigue lead to many automobile injuries and fatalities. Alcohol
compounds problems associated with sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation should be evaluated
and treated; a 1-year delay is too long.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Page 365-366 | Page 371 | Page 373-374
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
A nurse provides health education for an adult with sleep deprivation. It is most important for the
nurse to encourage caution when the patient engages in:
a. using a vacuum cleaner.
b. cooking a meal.
c. driving a car.
d. bathing. - ANSANS: C
Safety is the highest priority for this patient. Sleep deprivation causes psychomotor deficits.
Driver drowsiness and fatigue lead to many automobile injuries and fatalities. The distracters
are less likely to be associated with serious injury.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Page 365-366 | Page 371 | Page 373-374
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
A patient needs diagnostic evaluation of sleep problems. Which test will evaluate the patient for
possible sleep-related problems?
a. Skull x-rays
b. Electroencephalogram (EEG)
c. Positron emission tomography (PET)
d. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) - ANSANS: B
Electroencephalogram (EEG) measures NREM and REM sleep. The distracters represent ways
to diagnose structural and metabolic problems.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: Page 366 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
Disorders
A nurse cares for these four patients. Which patient has the highest risk for problems with sleep
physiology?
a. Retiree who volunteers twice a week at Habitat for Humanity
b. Corporate accountant who travels frequently
c. Parent with three teenagers
d. Lawn care worker - ANSANS: B
The corporate accountant is likely to work long hours and have significant stress associated with
work demands. Compounded by travel, these factors are likely to precipitate unstable sleep
patterns and inadequate sleep time. The retiree and lawn care worker engage in physical
activity during the day, which will promote natural fatigue and sleep. The parent's sleep is
unlikely to be disturbed; teenagers sleep through the night.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
REF: Page 365 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance
Which comment is most likely from a patient with chronic sleep deprivation?
a. "I turn on the television every night to get to sleep. I set the timer so it goes off in 30 minutes."
b. "I have diarrhea frequently and not much energy, so I stay at home most of the time."
c. "I only sleep about 7 hours a night, but I know I should sleep 8 or 9 hours."
d. "When my alarm clock goes off every morning, it seems like I am dreaming." - ANSANS: B
A discrepancy between hours of sleep obtained and hours required leads to sleep deprivation.
Adults with less than 6 hours of sleep per night often suffer from chronic sleep deprivation.
Common complaints include poor general health, physical and mental distress, limitations in
ADLs, depressive or anxious symptoms, and pain. One distracter indicates a problem with sleep
hygiene [television]. The remaining distracters do not indicate a problem.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Page 365-366 | Page 373 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity
The nurse provides health education for an adult experiencing sleep deprivation. Which
instruction has the highest priority?
, a. "It's important to limit your driving to short periods. Sleep deprivation increases your risks for
serious accidents."
b. "Sleep deprivation is usually self-limiting. See your health care provider if it lasts more than a
year."
c. "Turn the radio on with a soft volume as you prepare for bed each evening. It will help you
relax."
d. "Three glasses of wine each evening help many patients who suffer from sleep deprivation." -
ANSANS: A
Safety is the highest priority for this patient. Sleep deprivation causes psychomotor deficits.
Driver drowsiness and fatigue lead to many automobile injuries and fatalities. Alcohol
compounds problems associated with sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation should be evaluated
and treated; a 1-year delay is too long.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Page 365-366 | Page 371 | Page 373-374
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
A nurse provides health education for an adult with sleep deprivation. It is most important for the
nurse to encourage caution when the patient engages in:
a. using a vacuum cleaner.
b. cooking a meal.
c. driving a car.
d. bathing. - ANSANS: C
Safety is the highest priority for this patient. Sleep deprivation causes psychomotor deficits.
Driver drowsiness and fatigue lead to many automobile injuries and fatalities. The distracters
are less likely to be associated with serious injury.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Page 365-366 | Page 371 | Page 373-374
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
A patient needs diagnostic evaluation of sleep problems. Which test will evaluate the patient for
possible sleep-related problems?
a. Skull x-rays
b. Electroencephalogram (EEG)
c. Positron emission tomography (PET)
d. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) - ANSANS: B
Electroencephalogram (EEG) measures NREM and REM sleep. The distracters represent ways
to diagnose structural and metabolic problems.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: Page 366 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
