Objective:
To characterize naps during night shifts in terms of duration, allocation, quality, and sleep efficiency among nursing professionals. Cross-sectional study conducted in 2009. Professionals working the night shift for more than one year and reporting no sleep complaints answered a questionnaire, wore an actigraph (device to monitor human sleep-wake cycle) and completed an activity protocol (n = 49).
Results:
87% of participants napped during night shifts and the mean duration of naps was 136 minutes (SD = 39.8). Longer naps at work were observed among those napping between 12:00am-3:00am, compared to those napping between 3:00am-6:00am. The efficiency of on-shift sleep was similar to nighttime sleep at home on days off.
Conclusion:
Similarity between sleep efficiency at work and at home suggests there is a beneficial effect of napping. Discussion concerning the management of the workforce during the night shift should consider not only aspects concerning work organization, but also aspects concerning human physiology.
Nursing; Sleep; Night work; Health