The aim of this field study is to describe night shift resting and napping strategies and
to examine their beneficial effects on sleepiness and quality of work. The study was
carried out with 16 nurses working in an intensive care unit. Data collected during 20
night shifts were related to job demands (systematic observations), to the duration and
timing of rests and naps taken by nurses (systematic observations, sleep diaries), to
sleepiness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale), and to quality of work scores (visual analog
scale). The results showed that the number of rests and naps depended on the job demands.
Resting and napping lowered the levels of sleepiness at the end of the shift. There was no
direct relationship between sleepiness and the quality of work score. Discussions about
the choice of indicators for the quality of work are necessary. Suggestions for
implementing regulations for prescribed napping during night shifts are presented.
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