This work schedule forces the nurse to sleep during the day, disrupting the body’s natural chemical processes for the regulation of sleep and interrupts the body’s ability to heal (Fischer, Griep, Rotenberg, & Silva-Costa, 2015). Working night shift has been shown to alter the body’s biological mechanisms, leading to altered sleep patterns and mental health issues (Akerstedt & Wright, 2009). As of 2016, night shift nurses accounted for 7.6% of the over 2.8 million nurses working in the united states (Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2016). Working night shift is very common in healthcare doctors, nurses, and nurse’s aides often work overnight when they would normally be sleeping. Night Shift Nurses’ Perception of Sleep Quality The goal is to illuminate the problem, if one exists, and develop new and novel ways to improve sleep quality among health care providers. The purpose of this study is to compare the day shift and night shift nurse’s perception of sleep quality using The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

However, due to the inaccuracies in data collection, low sample sizes, and gender bias, the extent of the problem remains underestimated. The current literature shows that night shift can cause symptoms of anxiety and depression, fatigue, and altered sleep patterns. This work sleep pattern is not conducive to a safe patient care environment. Working overnight requires sleep during the day, which can lead to altered sleep patterns and mental and physical disability. Many other professions within the medical field, as well as countless other professions, have similar working hours. Night shift nurses account for approximately 7.6% of over 2.8 million nurses working in the United States as of 2016. Share this: Facebook Twitter Reddit LinkedIn WhatsApp