Vigilance and sleepiness in nurses working 12-hr shifts and their coping strategies.

Abstract

To describe the progression of vigilance and sleepiness over the shift and the coping strategies of nurses working 12-hr day or night shifts. The spread of 12-hr shift work in nursing raises the question of whether sufficient vigilance can be maintained to ensure quality of care. 18 nurses working 12-hr shifts filled out a Karolinska Sleepiness Scale questionnaire and a Brief Psychomotor Vigilance Test, at the beginning of the shift and then every 3hr. Coping strategies and quality of care were assessed on self-administered questionnaires, filled out at 3hr, 6hr, 9hr and 12hr after the start of the shift. The present investigation did not show significantly excessive sleepiness or vigilance impairment or poor self-perception of quality of work during 12-hr nursing work shifts, although Psychomotor Vigilance Test results gradually deteriorated slightly over duty time (from start to end of shift). Certain coping strategies were preferred such as 'having a nap' later in the night shift. Attention needs to be paid to the health status of nurses working 12-hr shifts, with regular medical monitoring by the occupational health service. Coping strategies to maintain sufficient vigilance to ensure quality of care should be facilitated.