Sleep disturbances in caregivers of patients with end-stage congestive heart failure: Part II--assess and intervene

Sleep disturbances in caregivers of patients with congestive heart failure is common. The consequences of sleep disturbances are dire and have potential to seriously impact caregiver health and patient outcomes. Therefore, it is imperative that the health care team, especially nurses, assess and intervene. Basic assessment of caregiver sleep disturbance can be quick and simple and can be performed while assessing the congestive heart failure patient's health. If a more complex sleep disorder is suspected, other assessments can be conducted if time and money permit. The benefits to properly assessing sleep disturbance and subsequent treatment far outweigh the minimal time spent by the health care team or caregiver.