Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2026
07:47
The Rodent Psychomotor Vigilance Test (rPVT): A Method for Assessing Neurobehavioral Performance in Rats and Mice
Published on: December 29, 2016
Sleepiness and safety at work among night shift NHS nurses
A Westwell1, P Cocco2, M Van Tongeren2
1The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK.
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|October 25, 2021
Summary
Night shift nurses experience significant sleepiness, impacting work safety and driving. Over 28% reported excessive daytime sleepiness, with many experiencing adverse driving events like near-miss accidents.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Sleep Medicine
- Nursing Research
Background:
- Night shift working (NSW) is a recognized hazard in healthcare.
- Sleepiness from NSW negatively affects worker health, well-being, and safety outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of self-reported sleepiness in nurses and midwives working night shifts.
- To investigate the impact of sleepiness on workplace safety and driving among these healthcare professionals.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among night shift nurses and midwives.
- The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to assess sleepiness.
- Data collection occurred during the first COVID-19 pandemic peak in England.
Main Results:
- The study achieved a 12% response rate (229 participants).
- 28% of participants reported excessive daytime sleepiness.
- 49% reported nodding off while driving, and 44% reported a near-miss car accident in the past year.
- Abnormal ESS scores correlated with near-miss accidents and reduced confidence in complex tasks.
Conclusions:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness is prevalent among night shift nurses and midwives, though the low response rate limits generalizability.
- Adverse driving events are common in this population.
- Higher ESS scores are linked to increased safety concerns during night shifts and while driving.
Related Concept Videos
01:08Obedience
33.4K
According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the inappropriate orders were delivered with less force? The increasing interdependence between nurses and physicians compelled Hofling and his colleagues to explore nurses’ reactions to a potentially harmful medical request made by the perceived authority figure, the doctor (Hofling, Brotzman, Dalrymple, Graves, & Pierce, 1966). In this situation,...
33.4K
01:28Current Trends in Nursing I
1.8K
Current trends in nursing include:
1.8K
01:30Current Trends in Nursing II
1.5K
Trends in nursing are multifactorial and associated with changes in society, within the nursing profession, and in other professions. Notably, telehealth and remote nursing contribute to successful healthcare delivery for numerous patients and help reduce stress for nurses due to nursing shortages. Nurses can reach patients, monitor their conditions, and interact with them using computers, audio, visual accessories, and telephones—for example, remote patient monitoring systems. Likewise,...
1.5K
01:24Sleep-Wake Cycles
1.9K
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
1.9K
01:13Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
295
Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
295
01:07Narcolepsy
231
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
231