Night Shift Work and Sleep Experiences in Older Night Shift Nurses

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Sleep Medicine
• Gerontology

Background:

• Night work disrupts the biological clock, leading to sleepiness and reduced performance.
• Older individuals are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of circadian misalignment.
• Shift work poses unique challenges to sleep quality and daily functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the night work and sleep experiences of older nurses (aged 50-65).
• To understand the lived realities of this demographic in night shift nursing roles.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative content analysis of seven virtual focus groups.
• Involved 19 older nurses working regular 8-hour night shifts.
• Transcripts were independently coded by facilitators and research assistants.

Main Results:

• Identified nine themes across three domains: night shift challenges, sleep difficulties, and family/social impacts.
• Challenges include initial night shift difficulty, persistent fatigue, and health concerns.
• Sleep issues involve inconsistent timing, prolonged wakefulness, and poor daytime sleep quality.
• Family and social obligations, along with aging, further complicate sleep and prioritization.

Conclusions:

• Findings illuminate the struggles older night shift nurses face with sleep and work performance.
• Insights are vital for creating effective interventions to improve sleep in this high-risk group.
• Addressing these challenges can enhance both well-being and patient safety.