The Importance of Sleep in the Intensive Care Unit

Sleeping and the Importance of Rest in Critical Care Patients

Sleeping is a very important part of the daily activities of the patient. After the activities of the day, a patient needs to rest in preparation for the activities of the next day. The lack of sleep can result in problems in various body systems. Deprivation of sleep in the hospitalized patient leads to various changes such as confusion and problems in medication use. The care of the critically ill patients needs to involve among other things ensuring that sleep hygiene is maintained. These patients need a quiet environment that allows them to have enough rest (Maidl, Leske, & Garcia, 2014). The nurse plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the patient has a good sleep experience. The need to establish whether a patient gets enough rest in a quiet environment or not is an ongoing process.

The Impact of Sleep on Patient Reaction to Treatment

When sleep is well managed, the patient`s reaction to treatment is more effective. There are various factors in the critical care unit that make healing either slower or faster. Such factors include noise from the machines, lighting, and interactions the patient has with the hospital staff (Maidl, Leske, & Garcia, 2014). The body systems need to regain their proper functioning through sleep. This makes sleep a very important and necessary undertaking in the critically ill patients. Few studies have however tried to explore if some quiet time (QT) is beneficial to the patients and mostly the critically ill patients. The essay serves to analyze a quantitative study that was done to determine the effects and benefits of sleep in critical care (Maidl, Leske, & Garcia, 2014).

Quantitative Critical Care Appraisal

The study aims to scrutinize the impact of QT in the intensive care unit. It has been explicitly addressed with two main variables identified. The two variables include the influence of quiet time and the patient. The author of the article made sure that the study was relevant to the target population as a quiet time is usually required in the critical care. The research questions have been highlighted by the author with a keen interest in how various factors can cause sleep deprivation. The research questions have been able to address the variables of the research. The questions also have ensured that the aim of the study is attained. They have given a particular direction to the study since they are specific to the study (Maidl, Leske, & Garcia, 2014). The hypothesis for the study has not been identified. However, some of the arguments that have been put forth in the study explain the inspiration of QT in patient healing in the critical care department. Some facts and propositions have been explained which makes the hypothesis of the study to be testable to a certain limit.

Review of Literature

With the literature review, the author has explained all the study variables. The literature has discussed sleep deprivation, the barriers to sleep in the critical care, the impact of some factors such as pain in sleep deprivation and has also discussed other previous studies on the quiet time. The strengths and the weaknesses of the research design of previous studies have been depicted at how much information was obtained. It’s also depicted from the reliability of the findings for future use. The literature from previous findings and that of the concepts in the study have been explained in chronological order with each concept building to another.

Study Framework and Design

The study has used the Topf`s stress model to highlight the study framework. The model explains how the change and management of the environment can bring about good outcomes. This is in line with the nursing perspective which thrives on the fact that controlling a patient`s environment will improve the ability to rest. The framework can be used in other studies in the nursing profession to guide in unlocking the various environmentally safe ways of managing the patient`s condition.

Furthermore, the study has employed a quantitative research design which involves using the actual figures to depict how the subjects react to the treatment administered. The design has shown a vivid explanation of the literature and how the various variables are identified and measured. Most of the study participants were randomly selected from a convenience sampling technique. Level one of evidence was used in the study. This level of evidence involves using a randomized and controlled trial on the subjects (Maidl, Leske, & Garcia, 2014).

Quasi-Experimental Design and Validity

In addition to the quantitative research design, a quasi-experimental design has been used in the study. A quasi-experimental design that has been applied is the posttest-only design in which subjects are tested after the experiment. It is very appropriate as it identifies how patients respond to the treatment that has been given to them. This design is however faced with various determinants of external and internal validity. Some of the threats to internal validity include maturation, subject mortality, and instrumentation. On the other hand, the coercions to external validity are confounding, selection biases, the constructs, and methods. The author has highlighted some of the threats to validity. Some of the threats are however acceptable as they cannot be avoided since it forms part of the limitation of the study. From the findings of the study, the results are not generalizable. This is because the conditions of the patients and their caretakers are not the same compounds on the environment in which the patients are exposed (Maidl, Leske, & Garcia, 2014).

Sample and Data Collection

The sample of this study has been identified using an accessible sampling technique. The characteristics of the sample such as age and gender have been well explained in the study. The technique of sample identification is effective since it ensures that only patients in the critical unit are selected and that no preferential treatment is given to the subjects. However, there is no bias from the technique as the characteristics of the subjects is considered. The sample size is appropriate for medical studies only require small subjects who showcase with certain characteristics that form the basis for clinical judgment. However, there is an indication that the rights of patients such as self-determination were considered as the name of each patient was indicated (Maidl, Leske, & Garcia, 2014).

Data Analysis and Results

The major data collection instruments are not illustrated. However, the method that was used for the study was appropriate as the actual number of patients with specific qualities were identified and documented. The data collectors were well trained in boardrooms and given specific considerations and tasks to perform. The major statics of each variable is appropriate and effective for the study. Furthermore, no tables and graphs are used to represent the data in the study. The results require someone with the mathematical basis for easy understanding.

Discussion and Conclusion

The results of the study have been discussed following the facts and the theoretical framework effective for the study. The author has highlighted various limitations and given appropriate suggestions for solutions to the threats. The author has highlighted the weakness of the research which he recommends that further studies need to be done. Some strengths of the study have enabled the author make valid conclusions. Moreover, the author has given the clinical evidence of each of the findings and a clear recommendation for future research (Maidl, Leske, & Garcia, 2014).

Conclusion

The results of the study highlight how the patient`s environment affects the healing ability and quality of care provided. Sleep deprivation can result in various changes in the body system which needs the nurses to be very proactive in managing their environment. The staff needs to undergo various training so that they can understand the need of the patients in critical to provide a quiet environment for healing. They also need to understand the various effects of sleep deprivation.

Reference

Maidl, C. A., Leske, J. S., & Garcia, A. E. (2014). The influence of “quiet time” for patients in critical care. Clinical nursing research, 23(5), 544-559.