The Effects of Implementing a Sleep Menu on Patient Satisfaction

Abstract

Patients admitted for acute medical care in the hospital frequently have their rest hindered by the routines of evening and night shift staff. When hospitalized, many patients report their sleep being frequently interrupted by staff performing intermittent checks, the over stimulating environment, and the generally disruptive sounds that come with maintaining the healthcare system’s functionality around the clock. While all of these routines and noises have become nearly imperceptible by the employees of this setting, 80% of patients report poor quality sleep and waking up in the morning feeling significantly less refreshed than usual (Park et al., 2014) . The importance of high quality sleep and its impact on our overall health is gaining recognition and has now been formally identified by the Healthy People 2020 goals. This literature review demonstrates how patients’ sleep in the inpatient setting has been impaired, the effect it has on overall patient satisfaction, and provides tangible recommendations to remedy this issue.