Sleepiness in critical care nurses: results of a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Sleep deprivation, compounded by circadian disruptions, is a common problem in health care workers. Sleepiness in nurses has important implications for patients as well as nurses' own safety.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to assess comprehensively sleepiness levels in post-night-shift nurses.


METHODS
Post-night-shift nurses in the ICU and on general floors (medicine and surgery) were assessed using subjective (Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]) and objective (Mean Sleep Latency Test [MSLT]) measures.


RESULTS
ESS was abnormal (>8) in 7 of 10 ICU nurses compared with 2 of 10 floor nurses (P < .005), and mean ESS score was also higher (8.7 +/- 3.9 vs. 5.6 +/- 2.1, respectively; P = 0.042). MSLT values for the first nap period were in the pathologic range in the ICU nurses compared with the floor nurses (4.65 +/- 5.5 vs. 10.85 +/- 7.4 minutes, respectively; P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Post-night-shift RNs working in the ICU have a pathologic degree of sleepiness.
Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. srsurani@hotmail.com
Salim
S
Surani
Shyam
S
Subramanian
Harsh
H
Babbar
Jane
J
Murphy
Raymond
R
Aguillar
D000328:Adult; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012894:Sleep Stages; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance