Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Research Paper

Sleep Deprivation and Fatigue among Nurses Working Consecutive Night Shifts: A Prospective Observational Study: Min, Ari , Seo, Jisu , Kang, Minkyung , Hong, Hye Chong; J Korean Acad Nurs 2024;54(2):139-150. Published online May 31, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.23164

Purpose
This study aimed to identify changes in sleep patterns and fatigue levels during consecutive night shifts among shift nurses and to determine the association between sleep parameters and increased fatigue levels during work.
Methods
This prospective observational study employing ecological momentary assessments was conducted using data collected from 98 shift nurses working in Korean hospitals between June 2019 and February 2021. The sleep patterns were recorded using actigraphy. The participants reported their fatigue levels at the beginning and end of each night shift in real time via a mobile link. Linear mixed models were used for the analysis.
Results
Nurses spent significantly less time in bed and had shorter sleep durations during consecutive night shifts than on off-duty days, whereas their wake times after sleep onset were much longer on off-duty days than on on-duty days. Fatigue levels were higher on the second and third night-shift days than on the first night-shift days. A shorter time spent in bed and asleep was associated with a greater increase in fatigue levels at the end of the shift than at the beginning.
Conclusion
Nurses experience significant sleep deprivation during consecutive night shifts compared with off-duty days, and this sleep shortage is associated with a considerable increase in fatigue levels at the end of shifts. Nurse managers and administrators must ensure sufficient intershift recovery time during consecutive night shifts to increase the time spent in bed and sleeping.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

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International Journal of Nursing Studies.2025; 169: 105112. CrossRef
Fatigue and coping strategies among Chinese night-shift nurses: a cross-sectional study
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BMC Nursing.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
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