AIM: To explore the sleep quality among Chinese nurses and identify the association between night shift and sleep quality and health.
BACKGROUND: Chinese nurses have many night shifts; the effect of it regarding nurses' sleep quality and health is still not being explored.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. There were 3,206 nurse participants. The participants self-completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Cornell Medical Index (CMI).
RESULTS: Night shift nurses demonstrated relatively worse sleep quality (55.1%) and more health problems (20.7%). Night shift work was significantly associated with poor sleep quality (β = 0.96, confidence interval [CI] = 0.67-1.26) and poor health (β = 2.01, CI = 0.15-3.88). Except for sleep medication (β = 0.02, CI = -0.01, 0.05) and psychological health (β = 0.38, CI = -0.27, 1.03), night shift work was significantly associated with other PSQI domains and physical health.
CONCLUSION: Night shift work was a risk factor for nurses' sleep quality and health. Night shift nurses have more sleep disorders and physical health problems.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse managers should pay attention to the impact of shift work on nurses' sleep quality and health and reform the rotating shift work system to improve nurses' occupational health.
