Relating palliative care principles to the promotion of undisturbed sleep in a hospice setting

Nurses working at night have a specific role in supporting sleep and promoting rest and comfort. Sometimes the role of the night duty nurse in promoting sleep and comfort is taken for granted. One author's experience of working as a night duty nurse led to reflection on her responsibilities in improving practice and addressing the sleep-related needs of patients in a palliative care setting. Following a literature review, it was clear that there are very few publications on sleep disturbance in palliative care. Using the four principles of palliative care (Aranda, 1998a), the authors construct a series of strategies to prevent and manage sleep issues.