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

Identify desired training content for shift-working nurses to improve their sleep and fatigue.

A descriptive qualitative design.

We recruited night shift nurses (N = 23) to provide feedback during virtual focus groups/interviews. Data collection occurred in the U.S. between March and June 2024. Participants were presented with sleep and fatigue topics derived from the literature. Focus group/interview data were collected and transcribed. Data were analysed using a hybrid deductive-inductive manifest content analysis with an a priori coding schema based on topics shared during data collection. Data not fitting the schema, yet informing content, were analysed inductively.

Three themes aligned with literature-derived topics. Theme 1, Why We Sleep and Why Should Nurses Care, explains the importance of sleep to health. Theme 2, Sleep Practices for Nurses to Support Health and Social Relationships, describes healthy strategies to promote sleep for enhanced quality of life. Theme 3, Fatigue and Work, illustrates the significance of nurse sleep and fatigue risk mitigation to safe working conditions and patient care.

Study findings highlight night shift nurses' interest in gaining evidence-based information to promote their sleep. Sleep education and training could fill a knowledge and skills gap, not often offered in school or workplace.

Identifying themes relevant to nurses may help increase the development and availability of sleep education and training currently tailored for nurses.

Study findings describe content night shift nurses' desire for sleep and fatigue training, serving as an important first step in developing programmes most relevant to shift-working nurses. Our analysis found the findings largely align with key components workers should receive in sleep education and training and reinforced the need for employers to offer such training. This study could benefit the nursing workforce and employers who expect rested, high-functioning nurses to care for patients.

Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research.

No patient or public contribution.

Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT06105307.