Sleep in the Intensive Care Unit

There is a clear relationship between lack of sleep, poor health outcomes, and delayed recovery from illness in the intensive care unit. Several factors can contribute to poor quality sleep in the intensive care unit, including (1) environmental disruptions such as light and sound, (2) physiologic disruptions such as discomfort, nausea, and pain, (3) psychological disruptions such as anxiety and a lack of privacy, and (4) health care provider-related disruptions, such as medication administration and nursing care. Nursing implications include increased attention to the role of sleep to promote intensive care unit patient ’s health outcomes and using multicomponent sleep-promoting protocols.

Source: Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America - March 30, 2020 Category: Nursing Authors: Karin Reuter-Rice, Mary Grace McMurray, Elise Christoferson, Haley Yeager, Brooke Wiggins Source Type: research