An overview of sleep and common sleep problems.

The purpose of this article is to review what is currently known about healthy sleep patterns, physiological alterations during various sleep stages, and factors that affect sleep patterns. How sleep patterns are altered, either by illness or environmental situations is of major concern to nursing practice. Sleep pattern disturbances are categorized and discussed as dyssomnias, parasomnias, and sleep disorders associated with medical or psychiatric disorders. Implications for nursing research and practice are briefly addressed in the conclusion.