Date of Award
Summer 2023
Project Type
Thesis
College or School
COLSA
Department
Nursing
Departments (Collect)
Department of Graduate Nursing
Program or Major
Direct Entry Masters Nursing
Degree Name
Master of Science
First Advisor
Pamela Kalmeratan
Abstract
Background: Sleep and rest play an influential role in promoting recovery and healing in humans. Hospitalized patients are at risk for altered sleep from hospitalization, illness, and stimulation from a hospital environment. Non-pharmacologic interventions preformed by nurses can help to improve sleep and sleep environment for patients.
Local problem: There was no protocol or available information regarding patient sleep promotion for nurses to references when caring for patients.
Methods: Nurses in the microsystem (n=8) were administered a pre/post questionnaire containing Likert scales and a short quiz containing knowledge-based questions. Questionnaires were distributed to nurses prior to and after one-on-one education surrounding non-pharmacological sleep promotion interventions.
Interventions: RNs were educated to perform non-pharmacological interventions to foster a sleep promoting environment for patients. Interventions included, closing blinds in patient rooms during nighttime medication passes, opening patient blinds in the morning to allow sunlight to help regulate circadian rhythm, closing patient room doors to reduce noise from unit hallways, and turning off televisions and lighting in patient rooms to facilitate natural melatonin production.
Results: There was a 17.885% increase in quiz scores measuring nurses' knowledge of sleep related topics following education. RNs also showed an increase in self-perceived ability to provide evidenced-based non-pharmacological sleep interventions to their patients.
Conclusion: Providing evidenced–based education for Registered Nurses (RNs) in a specific microsystem helped improve nurse knowledge and facilitate an evidenced–based sleep fostering environment for patients.
Key words: Non-pharmacological, Sleep, intervention, education, microsystem, protocol, RN education, Nurse confidence, Nurse knowledge, Progressive care, Dementia, Cognitive impairment, Circadian rhythm, Melatonin, Stimulus
Recommended Citation
Barry, David C., "Support Their Sleep: Enhancing Nurses' Knowledge and Implementation of Non-Pharmacological Sleep Protocols to Improve Patient Rest, Recovery, and Reduce Cognitive Impairment." (2023). Master's Theses and Capstones. 1690.
https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/1690
Included in
Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition Commons, Clinical Epidemiology Commons, Critical Care Nursing Commons, Interprofessional Education Commons, Medical Neurobiology Commons, Medical Physiology Commons, Other Medical Sciences Commons, Patient Safety Commons, Quality Improvement Commons
Comments
This Quality Improvement (QI) project was conducted to improve nurse-driven, evidenced-based patient care.