title: The Effect of Reported Sleep, Perceived Fatigue, and Sleepiness on Cognitive Performance in a Sample of Emergency Nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between reported sleep, perceived fatigue and sleepiness, and cognitive performance.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Although evidence suggests that fatigue and sleepiness affect the provision of care in inpatient units, there is a lack of research on the sleep patterns of emergency nurses and the effects of disturbed sleep and fatigue on their cognitive abilities and susceptibility to medical errors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quantitative correlational design was used in this study; in each of 7 different statistical models, zero-order relationships between predictors and the dependent variable were examined with appropriate inferential tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants reported high levels of sleepiness and chronic fatigue that impeded full functioning both at work and at home.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although high levels of self-reported fatigue did not show any effects on cognitive function, other factors in the environment may contribute to delayed, missed, or inappropriate care. Further research is indicated.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Director, Institute for Emergency Nursing Research (Dr Wolf); Senior Research Associate (Mss Perhats and Delao), Emergency Nurses Association, Des Plaines; and Research Assistant Professor (Dr Martinovich), Department of Psychiatry, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Illinois.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Cydne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perhats
authors.forename: Altair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delao
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Martinovich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D016529:Emergency Nursing; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D012890:Sleep; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult