Time-of-day dependent performance efficiency in student nurses.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Chronobiology
• Nursing Education

Background:

• Circadian rhythms influence cognitive functions and physiological parameters.
• Understanding diurnal variations in performance is crucial for optimizing learning and work schedules in healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of time of day on cognitive task performance in student nurses.
• To correlate cognitive performance with oral temperature fluctuations.

Main Methods:

• A battery of psychological tests (reasoning, memory, attention) was administered to 70 student nurses.
• Data collected at 2-hour intervals from 0800 to 2000.
• A 7x7 Latin square design and repeated measures ANOVA were used for analysis.

Main Results:

• Oral temperature showed significant diurnal variations.
• Cognitive task accuracy was superior in the early morning, at noon, and in the early evening.
• Performance speed was highest from late morning to late evening.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive performance in student nurses exhibits diurnal patterns, affecting both accuracy and speed.
• These findings highlight the importance of considering time-of-day effects in nursing education and practice.
• Further research could explore individual differences in circadian rhythms and their impact on performance.