The nurse is caring for a patient who becomes agitated when visitors stay for extended periods or the hospital unit becomes noisy. The nurse identifies this as sensory overload. Which interventions will be of benefit to the patient? (Select all that apply.)

Choice A reason: This is an incorrect choice because sleep-wake pattern is not the most important assessment to determine if a patient is receiving sufficient sleep. Sleep-wake pattern is the cycle of sleeping and waking that follows a circadian rhythm. However, it is not a reliable indicator of sleep quality or quantity, as different people may have different sleep-wake patterns that suit their needs and preferences.

Choice B reason: This is an incorrect choice because hours of sleep each night is not the most important assessment to determine if a patient is receiving sufficient sleep. Hours of sleep each night is the duration of sleep that a person gets in a 24-hour period. However, it is not a reliable indicator of sleep quality or quantity, as different people may have different sleep needs and requirements that vary according to age, lifestyle, health, and other factors.

Choice C reason: This is the correct choice because whether the patient feels rested is the most important assessment to determine if a patient is receiving sufficient sleep. Feeling rested is the subjective perception of the patient about their sleep quality and quantity. It is a reliable indicator of sleep sufficiency, as it reflects the patient's satisfaction and well-being after sleeping.

Choice D reason: This is an incorrect choice because frequency of nocturia is not the most important assessment to determine if a patient is receiving sufficient sleep. Frequency of nocturia is the number of times that a person has to urinate at night. However, it is not a reliable indicator of sleep quality or quantity, as it may be influenced by other factors such as fluid intake, medication, or medical conditions.

Choice A reason: This is an incorrect choice because release of prostaglandins lowers the patient’s heart rate and blood pressure is not a reason why acute pain is particularly dangerous for a patient having a heart attack. Prostaglandins are inflammatory mediators that are involved in pain perception and modulation, but they do not have a direct effect on the heart rate and blood pressure. In fact, some prostaglandins may have a protective role in the cardiovascular system by preventing platelet aggregation and vasodilation.

Choice B reason: This is an incorrect choice because release of substance P narrows the airways and leads to hypoxemia is not a reason why acute pain is particularly dangerous for a patient having a heart attack. Substance P is a neuropeptide that is involved in pain transmission and modulation, but it does not have a significant effect on the airways or the oxygen level. Substance P may cause bronchoconstriction in some patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but this is not a common or serious complication of acute pain.

Choice C reason: This is an incorrect choice because release of endorphins causes dangerous elevation of blood pressure is not a reason why acute pain is particularly dangerous for a patient having a heart attack. Endorphins are endogenous opioids that are involved in pain inhibition and modulation, but they do not have a major effect on the blood pressure. Endorphins may cause a slight increase in blood pressure by activating the opioid receptors in the brainstem, but this is not a significant or harmful response to acute pain.

Choice D reason: This is the correct choice because stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system will increase cardiac workload is a reason why acute pain is particularly dangerous for a patient having a heart attack. The sympathetic nervous system is part of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for the fight-or-flight response, which is triggered by acute pain. The sympathetic nervous system will increase the heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac contractility, which will increase the oxygen demand and consumption of the heart. This will worsen the ischemia and injury of the myocardium, and may lead to arrhythmias, heart failure, or cardiac arrest.