Case
Review the case below, and keep it in mind as you progress through the module. How
would you approach the assessment of this patient? What interventions might be
appropriate?
A.P. is a 53-year-old woman who is admitted to a home hospice program with
metastatic breast cancer, mild dyspnea, and bone pain. She is still able to walk with
assistance and enjoys visiting with family and friends and playing with her two small
grandchildren. Her hospice nurse reports that she is not sleeping well at night and the
family has requested a sleeping medication. Her sleep problems began within the past 2
weeks. She has difficulty falling asleep and wakes up at least twice during a typical
night, but does not have early morning awakening. She often takes brief naps in the
daytime. Further history reveals that she is reluctant to take sustained-release oral
morphine as prescribed (60 mg twice daily) for fear of addiction and sedation, and uses
caffeinated beverages to prevent sedation from the 10 mg immediate-release
breakthrough doses she does take. Daytime pain control is acceptable (usually a 2 out
of 10), but pain flares late at night are common. She has recently moved to her
daughter's home after a recent discharge from the hospital to facilitate her hospice care.
With encouragement, she agrees to try taking the sustained-release morphine as
prescribed, augmented by a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. She requests that
her bed be moved to her daughter's home for her use. She is also advised to avoid
caffeine and daytime naps (if possible), and to do her best to maintain a consistent
sleep schedule. She achieves reliable pain relief and is able to sleep without interruption
most nights. Though a benzodiazepine hypnotic is prescribed for PRN use, it is rarely
needed.