Barriers and Levers to the Implementation of Napping During Night Shift Work in Healthcare Workers: A Qualitative...

Healthcare workers are exposed to health risks associated with shift work including cognitive impairments associated with decreased alertness, increased drowsiness, and disturbances in circadian rhythms. Although workplace napping has been shown to provide potential health benefits, its practical implementation within hospital settings remains limited. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the barriers and levers to implementing a nap break at the workplace during night shift among nurses and care assistants.

This qualitative study uses both individual and collective semistructured interviews and aims to identify perceived barriers and levers in implementing a dedicated space and break for napping during night work in a French University Hospital. The study assessed the feasibility of napping during night shift work for healthcare workers working 12-h shifts and investigated perceptions of napping across different hierarchical levels, from management to prospective healthcare workers.

Twenty individual or collective interviews were conducted with 30 participants. Results showed that napping at work faced various barriers depending on the hierarchical level. Healthcare managers and the executive board were concerned about the challenges related to workload, lack of space, and insufficient staffing. Meanwhile, healthcare workers expressed cultural concerns regarding the negative perception of napping. Our findings revealed differences in napping perception between managers and administration, as well as a lack of exchange between hierarchical strata.

This study suggests that a shift in the perception of napping and improved communication within the hospital could facilitate its integration during night work. Collaboration among all hierarchical levels and a strong commitment from leaders are needed to overcome these challenges.