For a client diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which nursing diagnosis should be included in the plan of care?

• A. Acute confusion
• B. Sleep pattern disturbance
• C. Impaired physical mobility
• D. Risk for infection

Answer: (B)

Sleep disturbance is a common issue in fibromyalgia because persistent widespread pain and heightened arousal can disrupt both the ability to fall asleep and the quality of sleep. Restorative sleep helps reduce pain perception and improves daytime energy and cognitive function, so identifying sleep pattern disturbance in the plan targets a central contributor to the patient’s symptoms. Interventions would focus on sleep hygiene and relaxation techniques, such as maintaining a consistent bedtime, creating a quiet and dark sleep environment, avoiding caffeine late in the day, and scheduling pain management to minimize nocturnal awakenings. While mobility issues can occur due to pain, they are not the primary problem to address first in this context, and infection risk is not inherently related to fibromyalgia. Prioritizing sleep pattern disturbance aligns with how fibromyalgia typically manifests and responds to care.