Patients with persistent insomnia are long-suffering and in dire need of treatment. These individuals can be a challenge to treat. Duration and severity of the problem, current and prior use of sleeping medications, medical and psychiatric conditions, and experience with rebound insomnia are just some of the factors that affect treatment. Most of the insomnia problems that nurses encounter are secondary to a medical or psychiatric condition. Knowledge of assessment methods and implementation of nonpharmacological interventions can make a substantial contribution to the quality of life of persons with insomnia.