Intensive care medicine

How Natural Sleep Patterns Affect Sleepiness, Tiredness, and Alertness in ICU Nurses Working Night Shifts

Updated

Abstract

The majority of ICU nurses (69%) preferred early activity, or morning .

  • Morning chronotype nurses were more likely to nap before night shifts compared to evening chronotype nurses.
  • Many morning chronotype nurses had young children living at home, which may affect their shift work tolerance.
  • Increased sleepiness and fatigue were reported during night shifts, but no impact on psychomotor vigilance was observed.
  • Problem-solving accuracy remained high during night shifts, although productivity decreased.

Simplified

Key numbers

61 of 96
Prevalence of Morning
Total ICU nurses participating in the study.
1.40
Increase in Sleepiness Score
Comparison of sleepiness scores between night and day shifts.
0.69
Increase in Fatigue Score
Comparison of fatigue scores between night and day shifts.

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