SLEEPING

Some nursing/medical or Standard English words and corresponding

colloquial words and expressions associated with sleeping

are given in Box 5.8.

Note: Colloquial expressions used in the case histories and

example conversations are explained in brackets [].

Mrs Bell moved into the care home from sheltered housing [housing

with communal areas and a warden] 5 days ago. She had

enjoyed her time there, but after the fall and the fractured hip she

felt that she needed more care. Although there was a button to

press to get help, she was frightened of falling again and having

to wait for help to come. Both her sons were concerned about

her and going into the home seemed the most sensible thing to

do. She hadnt expected to feel at home straight away, but she is

missing her friends and is not sleeping well.

Nurse: Good morning Mrs Bell how are you settling in?

Mrs B.: Not too bad I suppose, but it feels a bit strange still.

Nurse: I thought it would be helpful for us to have a chat now

that you have been here for a few days.You said that it

feels strange.

Mrs B.: Im not complaining and everyone is so kind, but I

miss the ladies from the sheltered housing.

Nurse: Have any of them visited you yet?

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Case history Mrs Bell

Mrs B.: The warden came yesterday and it was nice to hear all

the gossip. My special friends are away on their hols

[holiday] until next week, so I expect they will be

round then.

Nurse: Thats good.What about your sons?

Mrs B.: John brought me in, and he came yesterday on his way

home from work. Nigel works away during the week,

but he will be in on Saturday.

Nurse: Have you got to know the other residents yet?

Mrs B.: I had tea [a light meal in the afternoon or evening]

with Mrs Forbes and she was very friendly.

Nurse: How are you sleeping?

Mrs B.: Not very well, Im awake half the night.

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Box 5.8 Words associated with sleeping (for further examples

see Ch. 6)

Nursing/medical or Colloquial (everyday) or slang (very informal)

Standard English words words and expressions used by patients

Bruxism Grind my teeth during sleep

Go to bed/sleep Hit the hay/sack; retire for the night;

say goodnight; turn in

Insomnia Awake half the night; can't get off (to sleep);

sleeplessness; wakefulness; wide awake

Narcolepsy Drop off without warning

Sleep Catnap; doze/dozing off; drop off; forty winks;

kip; lose myself; nap; siesta; shut eye; snooze

Sleep hygiene Bed time or pre-sleep routine/rituals

Somnambulance Sleep walking

Somnolent Dozy; drowsy; heavy-eyed; nodding off; sleepy

Weary Dead beat; dog-tired; done in; ready to drop;

whacked

Nurse: Is that usual for you?

Mrs B.: Not really. I used to have the odd [in this context

means infrequent or unusual] night when I would

wake up, but most nights I would sleep right through

until about half past six [6.30 a.m.].

Nurse: Do you have trouble falling asleep [going to sleep] or do

you wake up in the night?

Mrs B.: Im really tired, but as soon as I put the light out Im

wide awake again.

Nurse: Do you get to sleep eventually?

Mrs B.: Yes, but then I wake up feeling whacked [weary] and

groggy [unwell]. I dont feel rested.

Nurse: Do you wake up earlier than usual?

Mrs B.: I did this morning. There was a lot of coming and

going [activity] because the lady in the next room was

poorly [unwell].

Nurse: Yes, she had to go into hospital.

Mrs B.: And Im so tired in the day I keep dozing off [going to

sleep] in the chair.

Nurse: Did you usually have a short nap [sleep] during the day
before you came to us?

Mrs B.: Well, if Im honest, I did sometimes put my feet up

[relax] after the lunchtime Archers [a long-running

radio programme] and lose myself for a bit [have a

short sleep].

Nurse: What time have you been falling asleep in the chair?

Mrs B.: After supper [last meal of the day], so when I come to

[wake up] its time to start thinking about going to bed.

Thats a bit late for a nap I know.

Nurse: Do you have a bedtime routine things that help you get

to sleep?

Mrs B.: I used to have a bath last thing [just before going to

bed] and take a milky drink to bed. Then read until I

felt drowsy [somnolent].

Nurse: What sort of time [approximate timing] would you usually

have the bath?

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Mrs B.: After the news at ten [10 p.m.] and be in bed by 11

[11 p.m.]. Im not sure if its all right to have a bath that

late here. I expect the girls [night staff] are too busy to

help with baths.

Nurse: I will have a word [discuss it] with the nurse in charge

tonight about making sure you can have a bath if you want,

and get a milky drink. It is so important to get a good

nights sleep.
Mrs B.: You can say that again [emphasises the importance of

the nurses last statement]. I would be very grateful if

they could help me with a bath.

Nurse: Is there anything else that can be done to help you sleep

properly?

Mrs B.: It is quite warm in my room. Im not used to having

the radiator so hot in the bedroom.

Nurse: We can turn the thermostat down, so it just takes the chill

off the room [make sure that the room is not cold].

Mrs B.: They tried last night, but it was too stiff to turn.

Nurse: Ill get on to [contact] the maintenance staff right away

[at once].

Mrs B.: It was so hot I pushed the duvet off me. I havent done

that since the change [climacteric/menopause] when I

used to have night sweats.

Nurse: What about when you get up in the morning, will you be

warm enough?

Mrs B.: Oh yes, my boys [her sons] treated me to [paid for]

some new clothes to come in here and that included

a fleecy dressing gown. Look its on the chair. Do you

think its too bright?

Nurse: I like that dark pink. Its such a warm colour.

Mrs B.: Yes, I like it. I did wonder about pink at my age, but

then I thought Why not?.

Nurse: Is there anything else that stops you sleeping?

Mrs B.: I still need to get used to [become accustomed to] the
light coming in from the corridor.

Nurse: Were you used to sleeping in complete darkness?

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Mrs B.: Yes, the sheltered housing is on the edge of the village,

right out in the sticks [rural location, in the

countryside].

Nurse: We need to keep the light on in the corridor, so that

everyone can move about safely.

Mrs B.: Yes, I know. I dont suppose it will bother [trouble] me

for long.