The client is a homeless veteran who has been staying at a shelter since discharge after serving in Iraq. The client has become increasingly irritable over the last two weeks and might be evicted from the shelter if the client's behavior does not improve. The nurse learns that the client has not had more than a few hours of sleep in the last two days. Which diagnosis would be most appropriate for this client at this time?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The client's irritability is likely due to a lack of sleep, which is confirmed by the information that the client has not slept more than a few hours in the last two days. The client's behavior may improve if their sleep pattern disturbance is addressed. While the client may also have other underlying issues, such as survivor guilt or posttraumatic stress disorder, the immediate concern is the lack of sleep and potential eviction from the shelter. The potential for self-harm is a concern, but it is secondary to the client's main issue of sleep disturbance. Therefore, the most appropriate diagnosis for this client at this time is sleep pattern disturbance related to anticipation of threat to basic needs and security.

The Client Is a Homeless Veteran Who Has Been Staying