ABSTRACT
Sleep deprivation is not a new concept in critical care nursing. Problems with sleep deprivation date back to when the first ICUs evolved. Despite the developments over the past few decades, sleep deprivation is one problem that persists. There was a significant amount of interest in sleep deprivation during the 1970s, but this interest appears to have declined and there is a noticeable lack of recent empirical research on this topic in relation to the critically ill patient. It may be viewed as an inevitable part of critical illness but, despite the difficulties, nurses should try to promote sleep. Adequate sleep is crucial for critically ill patients, as sleep deprivation can have detrimental effects on their already compromised wellbeing.
