A nurse is conducting an assessment on a client diagnosed with narcolepsy. The nurse should anticipate which of the following findings? Select all that apply.
A.
Hallucinations at the onset of sleep
B.
Sleep apnea
C.
A lack of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
D.
The urge to move the legs when trying to sleep
E.
Sudden attacks of sleep
The correct answer and Explanation is :
For a client diagnosed with narcolepsy, the nurse should anticipate the following findings:
A. Hallucinations at the onset of sleep
D. The urge to move the legs when trying to sleep
E. Sudden attacks of sleep
Here’s a brief explanation of each finding:
- Hallucinations at the onset of sleep: This is known as hypnagogic hallucinations. These are vivid and often frightening experiences that occur while falling asleep. They are common in narcolepsy and are related to the rapid transition from wakefulness to REM sleep.
- The urge to move the legs when trying to sleep: This describes symptoms related to Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), which is not a direct symptom of narcolepsy but can co-occur. Narcolepsy itself primarily involves symptoms such as excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, but the urge to move legs can be part of a broader sleep disturbance picture.
- Sudden attacks of sleep: Known as sleep attacks, this is a hallmark symptom of narcolepsy. It involves sudden and uncontrollable episodes of sleep that can occur at any time, often in inappropriate situations.
Not typically anticipated in narcolepsy:
B. Sleep apnea: Although sleep apnea and narcolepsy can both cause excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea is a distinct condition characterized by obstructive or central breathing disturbances during sleep. It’s not a direct symptom of narcolepsy but may coexist in some individuals.
C. A lack of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep: In narcolepsy, REM sleep can actually occur earlier in the sleep cycle than normal, rather than being absent. This early onset of REM sleep is a characteristic feature of the disorder.
In summary, the findings that are most indicative of narcolepsy include hallucinations at the onset of sleep, sudden attacks of sleep, and potentially restless legs syndrome, although this is not a core symptom of narcolepsy itself.