Nursing and Lack of Sleep

A career in nursing can have many benefits, but the long hours can be stressful. The primary effect of long hours in nursing is sleep deprivation and fatigue, which can lead to many other problems. Most nurses are on their feet for long periods, and some work odd hours such as the night shift in a hospital. If the nurse has a family, the job can interfere with family time. Nurses have to find a balance in their lives so the long hours do not take a toll on their own health and patient health.

Lack of sleep can cause irritability, which can affect personal and professional interactions. Nurses who are irritable because of fatigue may not have the patience to calmly deal with patients or co-workers. On the home front, nurses may be short-tempered with their partners or children, or may not be able to get the rest they need if they feel their families are making too many demands. Nurses need adequate down time to rest when not on the job, and this may be difficult for a nurse with a full-time job or big family.

Long hours can result in clinical errors, including wrong dosages and inadequate patient care in general. According to Alison Trinkoff, professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, "Alertness and vigilance is required for providing good nursing care, and depends upon having an adequate duration of quality sleep and rest."

Patient mortality has been linked to lower staffing levels of nurses. According to recent
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality studies, 30-day mortality rates and an increase in the likelihood of failure to save patients' lives are higher when nurse staffing levels are lower.

Moral distress and job dissatisfaction also contribute to career burnout as a nurse. Nurses may be in conflict about the quality of care given to patients. Nurses may exhibit certain negative feelings, such as frustration, guilt, anger and sadness in regard to patients who have died, and this can lead to moral distress and ultimately career burnout.

Therefore, stress relief for nurses is important. When nurses are less stressed, they can concentrate better, even if they lack sleep. If nurses are less stressed, they can sleep better when they do get the time to sleep. Some strategies for dealing with job related stress for nurses include indulging in hobbies, meditation, reading, exercise, playing games and gardening.

References

• Newswise: Nurses' Long Work Hours, Scheduling Can Increase Patient Mortality: University of Maryland Baltimore
  http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/572489/?sc=c133
• NurseZone.com: Study Finds Nurses Need Their Naps, By Linda Beattie
  http://www.nursezone.com/nursing-news-events/more-news.aspx?ID=18132
• TheOnlineJournalofIssuesinNursing: Ethics: Errors, the Nursing Shortage and Ethics: Survey Results
  http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/Columns/Ethics/ShortageSurveyResults.aspx
• AgencyforHealthcareResearchandQuality: Hospital Nurse Staffing and Quality of Care
  http://www.ahrq.gov/research/nursestaffing/nursestaff.htm
• Scrubs: 23 nurses reveal their stress relief escapes
  http://scrubsmag.com/23-nurses-reveal-their-stress-relief-escapes/