The knowledge and educational experiences of student nurses regarding sleep promotion in hospitals.
OBJECTIVE
This study explored the knowledge and educational experiences of student nurses regarding sleep and its promotion in hospitals.


BACKGROUND
Nurses have a key role to play in sleep promotion, with the knowledge of sleep an important component of skilled patient care. From a review of the literature, minimal research was found on what student nurses know, or how they learn about, sleep and its promotion.


METHODS
A mixed method approach was used. 1. Questionnaires were completed by student volunteers in the last six months of their nursing programme(n = 120) from four Higher Education Institutions.2. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with a sample of the students (n = 26).


RESULTS
The students lacked a complete knowledge about basic sleep physiology. Their knowledge of sleep disruption and sleep promoting factors was more evident, although this was generally not based on empirical evidence. The students viewed knowledge of sleep and its promotion positively, but reported that their educational programmes did not prepare them in this respect. The students felt that they had learnt most about sleep promotion through clinical experience, from staff, patients and their own life experiences, though this learning was unstructured.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings highlight the need to address the acquisition of knowledge and skills for the promotion of sleep in a structured learning framework in pre-registration nursing programmes. Academic and clinical staff need to be proactive in this respect.
Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of Chester, Parkgate Rd., Chester CH1 4BJ, UK. a.mcintosh@chester.ac.uk
Annette E
AE
McIntosh
Maureen
M
MacMillan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004506:Education, Nursing; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015399:Nursing Research; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012890:Sleep; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013338:Students, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult