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. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2008;3:200–205. © 2008 Society of Hospital Medicine.