The impact of night shift stress and sleep disturbance on nurses quality of life: case in Palestine Red Crescent and Al-Ahli Hospital

BMC Nurs. 2024 Jan 8;23(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s12912-023-01673-3.

Abstract

Background: Nurses play a vital role in providing round-the-clock care to patients, but the challenges associated with working night shifts can have significant implications for their well-being and quality of life.

Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the impact of night shift stress and sleep disturbance on the quality of life among nurses working in Palestine Red Crescent Society and Al-Ahli Hospital. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 189 full-time registered nurses with at least one year of job experience. The participants completed a questionnaire assessing night shift stress, sleep disturbance, and quality of life. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and path analysis were conducted to analyze the data.

Results: The results reveal that quality of life has positive and low relationship with both night shift stress and sleep disturbances. Results also reveal that night shift stress had a direct negative impact on the quality of life of nurses. Sleep disturbance was found to mediate the relationship between night shift stress and quality of life, indicating that higher levels of night shift stress were associated with increased sleep disturbance, which, in turn, led to poorer quality of life outcomes.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of addressing night shift stress and sleep disturbance among nurses to enhance their well-being and improve the quality of care provided to patients. In conclusion, this study contributes to the existing literature by demonstrating the detrimental effects of night shift stress and sleep disturbance on the quality of life of nurses. It emphasizes the importance of implementing interventions and creating supportive work environments that address the unique challenges faced by nurses working night shifts.

Keywords: Night shift stress; Nurses; Quality of life; Sleep disturbances.