Background:

Poor sleep is a growing issue in society. Sleep deprivation can have a negative impact on physical and mental health. Hypnotics are a common way to treat sleep deprivation, however there is a risk of developing addiction. The nurse’s role is to promote sleep by care action.

Aim

The aim is to identify non-medical strategies for promoting sleep.

Method:A literature review was performed based on qualitative research. The key findings were identified and compiled into themes.

Results:Six themes were identified: ‘Sleeping environment’, ’Mind games and distraction’, ‘Routines and planning’, ‘Rest, relaxation and stress relief’, ‘Activity’ and ‘Support’.

Conclusion: The nurse could promote the care recipient’s sleep by applying other care recipient’s strategies. There is a lack of research regarding care actions that are used by nurses to promote sleep, further study is necessary