Contemp Nurse
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Review
'Sorry, were you sleeping? Nurses' role in the promotion of sleep for critically ill patients.
During critical illness sleep is important for immune function and restorative processes. Despite theoretical evidence and scientific understanding of the effects of sleep deprivation in the critically ill, research is yet to be entirely translated into institutional practices and department cultural norms. ⋯ A paradigm shift in nursing and institutional culture is required to implement sleep promotion research and strategies to minimise adverse outcomes for patients.