What should a nurse instruct a client who is unable to fall asleep?

Instructing a client who is unable to fall asleep to stay in bed for at least one hour is based on sleep hygiene principles that aim to promote better sleep habits. When a person cannot fall asleep, it is often more beneficial to leave the bed and engage in a quiet, non-stimulating activity rather than to lie in bed frustrated, as this can create a negative association with the bed and worsen insomnia. The rationale behind the one-hour guideline encourages individuals to allow time for the body to relax and when that time has elapsed without sleep, it is then advisable to get up, engage in a calming activity, and return to bed when feeling sleepy.

This method helps reinforce the idea that the bed is a place for sleep, not for struggling to fall asleep, thereby reducing anxiety around the act of sleeping and helping to regulate the body's sleep-wake cycle more effectively.