Napping to Reduce Fatigue in Night-Shift Nurses
Author Information
Author(s): Watanabe Kazuhiro, Shishido Inaho, Ito Yoichi M., Yano Rika
Primary Institution: Hokkaido University
Hypothesis
Can napping during long night shifts help mitigate fatigue and sleepiness among nurses?
Conclusion
Nurses should aim for at least 120 minutes of napping with a sleep efficiency of at least 70% to effectively reduce fatigue and sleepiness.
Supporting Evidence
- 81.2% of nurses worked four night shifts per month.
- Napping for at least 120 minutes was associated with lower fatigue.
- Sleep efficiency of at least 70% was linked to reduced sleepiness.
- Nurses reported better performance after adequate napping.
- Environmental factors influenced napping duration and quality.
Takeaway
Nurses working long night shifts can feel less tired and sleepy if they take a good nap of at least 120 minutes.
Methodology
This was a month-long prospective observational study involving 32 nurses who worked 16-hour night shifts, measuring their napping patterns and associated factors.
Potential Biases
Selection bias may have been present as only nurses who napped were included.
Limitations
The study was limited to one hospital ward and excluded nurses who did not nap.
Participant Demographics
{"age_mean":34.6,"sex_distribution":{"female":29,"male":3},"nursing_experience_mean":11.8}
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.035
Confidence Interval
[1.8, 12.5]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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