Understanding Nurses' Needs Regarding Tailored, Evidence-Based Sleep Education and Training.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Sleep Science
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Shift work, particularly night shifts, significantly impacts nurses' sleep patterns and overall well-being.
• Fatigue in nurses is a critical concern affecting patient safety and quality of care.
• Existing sleep education is often insufficient for the unique challenges faced by shift-working nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific training content needs for shift-working nurses to enhance their sleep quality.
• To explore nurses' perspectives on improving sleep and managing fatigue in their work environment.
• To inform the development of targeted sleep education programs for nurses.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive qualitative design was employed.
• Virtual focus groups and interviews were conducted with 23 night shift nurses in the U.S. (March-June 2024).
• Data analysis utilized a hybrid deductive-inductive manifest content analysis of transcribed interviews.

Main Results:

• Three themes emerged: the importance of sleep for nurses, healthy sleep practices for quality of life, and the link between nurse fatigue and patient safety.
• Nurses expressed a strong interest in evidence-based information to improve their sleep.
• Findings align with essential components for worker sleep education and training.

Conclusions:

• Night shift nurses are eager for sleep and fatigue training, indicating a knowledge and skills gap.
• Developing tailored sleep education programs is crucial for the nursing workforce.
• Employers should prioritize offering such training to ensure rested, high-functioning nurses.