A student nurse looks at a patient's chart and does not understand the meaning of serious sleep apnea, so she asks the head nurse for assistance. How might the head nurse describe this condition?
A) The patient is mentally ill and tends to try to suffocate himself at times.
B) The patient cannot sleep unless he has several pillows he uses to deaden sounds that might awaken him.
C) The patient appears to awaken throughout the night and start walking, but he will not respond to commands.
D) The patient has a potentially life-threatening condition in which air does not flow into or out of his nose or mouth for periods of time while he is asleep.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Serious sleep apnea is a condition in which a person's breathing is briefly but repeatedly interrupted during sleep. This can lead to a decrease in oxygen levels in the body and potentially life-threatening consequences. Option A is incorrect as it describes a different condition altogether. Option B is incorrect as it describes a sleep habit rather than a medical condition. Option C is also incorrect as it describes a type of sleepwalking but not necessarily related to sleep apnea.

A Student Nurse Looks at a Patient's Chart and Does