Shining a Light on the Challenges of Night Shift Nursing: A Mixed-Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Occupational Health
• Circadian Biology

Background:

• Night shift work disrupts circadian rhythms, leading to fatigue, sleep deprivation, and health risks.
• These challenges negatively affect nurses' well-being and patient safety.
• Addressing night shift issues is vital for improving healthcare outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nurses' perspectives on night shift work.
• To identify effective fatigue countermeasures for night shift nurses.
• To gather recommendations for improving night shift working conditions.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods study involving surveys and focus groups with night shift nurses.
• Survey data analyzed using descriptive statistics.
• Focus group transcripts analyzed using thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Identified significant gaps in night shift support, including limited education and food access.
• Overarching theme: nurses' unique needs require recognition.
• Key themes: safety concerns, drowsy driving, need for breaks, fatigue, nourishment, self-care, and undervaluation of night work.

Conclusions:

• Findings confirm persistent challenges faced by night shift nurses.
• Limited changes have been implemented despite documented issues.
• Healthcare organizations must implement evidence-based interventions to improve nurse well-being, reduce turnover, and ensure patient safety.