The nurse enters a patient's room and the patient startles easily and appears to jerk his arms and legs before awakening. Which stage of non-rapid eye movement sleep did the patient most likely awaken from?

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In Stage 1 (N1 or Non-REM Stage 1), referred to as light sleep, the individual can be awakened easily. In this stage, brain waves slow and, on EEG, the slower wave pattern known as alpha waves appears. The individual at this point is likely to drift in and out of sleep and can be awakened easily. Sensations known as hypnagogic hallucinations can occur during this stage. A common sensation of this type is the feeling of falling. Uncontrolled muscle jerks sometimes occur at this stage along with sudden movements that can startle the individual and restore wakefulness.

The Nurse Enters a Patient's Room and the Patient Startles