Sleepiness in critical care nurses: Results of a pilot study
Journal of Hospital MedicinePublished 1 May 2008
Salim Surani, Shyam Subramanian, Harsh Babbar, Jane G. Murphy, Raymond Aguillar
Citations17
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.08
SNIP1.13
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TL;DR
Post-night-shift RNs working in the ICU have a pathologic degree of sleepiness, and these RNs are likely to have important implications for patients as well as nurses' own safety.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sleep deprivation, compounded by circadian disruptions, is a common problem in health care workers. Sleepiness in nurses has important implications for patients as well as nurses' own safety. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess comprehensively sleepiness levels in post-night-shift nurses. METHODS: Post-night-shift nurses in the ICU and on general floors (medicine and surgery) were assessed using subjective (Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]) and objective (Mean Sleep Latency Test [MSLT]) measures. RESULTS: ESS was abnormal (>8) in 7 of 10 ICU nurses compared with 2 of 10 floor nurses (P < .005), and mean ESS score was also higher (8.7 +/- 3.9 vs. 5.6 +/- 2.1, respectively; P = 0.042). MSLT values for the first nap period were in the pathologic range in the ICU nurses compared with the floor nurses (4.65 +/- 5.5 vs. 10.85 +/- 7.4 minutes, respectively; P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Post-night-shift RNs working in the ICU have a pathologic degree of sleepiness.
Keywords
PsychologyNursing
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