Nurses have increased risk of sleep disorders, deprivation

Editor's Note

Academic medical center nurses have a high prevalence of insufficient sleep and symptoms of sleep disorders, finds this study presented June 10 at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, in San Antonio.

A survey of 1,165 nurses at an academic medical center found that:

• 49% averaged less than 7 hours of sleep per night
• 31% had symptoms of chronic insomnia
• 4.5% had excessive daytime sleepiness
• 27% used medications to help them sleep
• 13% used medications to stay awake
• 31% had shift work disorder symptoms
• 18.5% had a moderate-to-severe risk for sleep apnea.

A focus on self-awareness and interventions are warranted to mitigate the detrimental effects of sleep disorders and to ensure proper safety and performance for nurses, the authors say.