Tips for Sleeping in the Hospital

If you have cancer, you might  have trouble sleeping. Sleep problems can be even worse if you are in the hospital. There are many things that can affect your sleep while in the hospital, such as:

• Certain medications and their side effects.
• Having vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, heart rate, etc.) taken often.
• Needing tests, procedures, or blood drawn for lab work.
• Noise in the hospital.
• Being in a place that you are not used to.
• Feeling anxious.

You may be woken up at night, have an irregular sleep schedule, and spend more time in bed during the day than you normally would. It can be hard to get the rest you need.

Here are some tips to improve your sleep while in the hospital:

• Limit time spent in bed during the day by sitting up in a chair and walking in the hallways if your care team says it is safe for you to do so.
• Try not to have caffeine (coffee, soda, chocolate, etc.) after 2pm, or 4 to 6 hours before bedtime (or earlier if it affects you more).
• Empty your bowel and bladder before going to sleep. Avoid drinking a lot before bed.
• At bedtime, turn off lights, TV, and any extra noise.
• Ask for earplugs or an eye mask if available (or bring them from home).
• Keep your room cool. Ask the staff to change the thermostat if needed.
• Bring your favorite pillow and blanket from home and wear comfortable clothing if you do not need to be in a hospital gown.
• Bring a sound machine or small fan to block out hospital noise.
• Try to stick to a bedtime routine that helps you relax and wind down from the day. You may want to read, listen to music, drink decaffeinated tea, and do some deep breathing and meditation.
• Ask the staff if your care overnight can be clustered (tasks done at one time, rather than being spread out) when possible to limit the number of times you are woken up.

If problems such as pain or nausea are keeping you from sleeping, talk with your care team about ways to help lessen these effects. While in the hospital, do not take any over-the-counter or prescription medications that aren’t given to you by your nurse. Talk with your care team about medications they may be able to give to you to help you sleep.