The relationship between shift work and sleep patterns in nurses

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Sleep Medicine
• Nursing Research

Background:

• Shift work is prevalent in nursing, often leading to circadian rhythm disruptions.
• Understanding the impact of shift work on nurses' sleep is crucial for their well-being and patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the sleep/wake cycle, sleep quality, and chronotype of nurses working in shifts.
• To identify potential factors contributing to poor sleep in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A sleep diary was maintained by 60 nurses (mean age 31.76 years).
• The Horne & Östberg Questionnaire assessed chronotype.
• The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) evaluated sleep quality.
• A visual analogical scale measured sleep perception.

Main Results:

• A majority of nurses were indifferent chronotypes (65.0%).
• Nighttime sleep quality (mean 5.85) was significantly better than daytime sleep (mean 4.70).
• The mean PSQI score of 7.0 indicated poor sleep quality.
• Significant differences were observed in sleep/wake schedules between weekdays and weekends.

Conclusions:

• Shift work nurses exhibit poor sleep quality and altered sleep/wake patterns.
• Lifestyle factors, including lack of exercise and shift work habits, may contribute to sleep disturbances.
• Further research and interventions are needed to mitigate the negative effects of shift work on nurses' sleep health.