A client claims alcohol helps them sleep. What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

A client claims alcohol helps them sleep. What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

• A. "Alcohol doesn't help promote sleep."
• B. "Continued alcohol use causes insomnia."
• C. "One glass of alcohol at dinnertime can induce sleep."
• D. "Sometimes, alcohol can make one drowsy enough to fall asleep."

Answer: (B)

When addressing a client's claims about using alcohol to aid sleep, it’s important for the nurse to provide accurate information about the effects of alcohol on sleep patterns. The most appropriate response highlights that continued alcohol use can lead to insomnia. Chronic consumption of alcohol can initially make a person feel drowsy and facilitate falling asleep; however, as the body metabolizes alcohol, it actually disrupts the later stages of the sleep cycle, particularly REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is vital for restorative sleep. Over time, as tolerance to alcohol develops, users may find that they get poorer quality sleep and may begin to experience insomnia as a result of withdrawal symptoms or the body’s adjustment to the presence of alcohol. This response educates the client on the potential adverse impacts of alcohol use on sleep quality, shifting the focus from a temporary solution to the long-term consequences that could be detrimental to their health.

When addressing a client's claims about using alcohol to aid sleep, it’s important for the nurse to provide accurate information about the effects of alcohol on sleep patterns. The most appropriate response highlights that continued alcohol use can lead to insomnia.

Chronic consumption of alcohol can initially make a person feel drowsy and facilitate falling asleep; however, as the body metabolizes alcohol, it actually disrupts the later stages of the sleep cycle, particularly REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is vital for restorative sleep. Over time, as tolerance to alcohol develops, users may find that they get poorer quality sleep and may begin to experience insomnia as a result of withdrawal symptoms or the body’s adjustment to the presence of alcohol.

This response educates the client on the potential adverse impacts of alcohol use on sleep quality, shifting the focus from a temporary solution to the long-term consequences that could be detrimental to their health.