Question

a client has been in the hospital for the past 10 days following the development of an infection at their surgical incision site. each morning, the client reports overwhelming fatigue and has told the nurse, \i just cant manage to get any sleep around here.\ how should the nurse first respond to this clients statement?

assess the factors that the client believes contribute to the problem.

educate the client on relaxation techniques and reduce noise levels on the unit.

obtain a prn order for a sedative hypnotic from the clients health care provider.

facilitate a change in the clients diet to ensure more carbohydrates at dinner.

Explanation:

In nursing, the first step when a client reports a problem (like not being able to sleep) is to assess. Assessing the factors the client believes contribute to the problem (such as noise, lights, pain from the surgical - site infection etc.) is the foundation for formulating an appropriate plan of care. Educating on relaxation or reducing noise (without knowing the root cause from the client's perspective first) may not address the actual issue. Obtaining a sedative order or changing the diet are interventions that may be considered later, but only after a proper assessment.

Answer:

Assess the factors that the client believes contribute to the problem.