Influence of Sleep Characteristic Changes on Nurses’ Quality of Life during Their Transition to Practice: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Aim: To explore the effect of changes in sleep characteristics on changes in quality of life during the transition period of new graduate nurses. Background: Sleep problems among nurses are associated with negative physical and psychological consequences. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Participants included 88 newly graduated nurses. Data were collected twice, prior to shift work and after 4 months of working as a nurse, via online structured self-report questionnaires created using Survey Monkey from March 2018 to February 2020. A generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze the influence of changes in sleep characteristics on quality of life. Results: A generalized linear mixed model showed that changes in the subjective quality of sleep, subjective health perception, and daytime dysfunction influenced quality of life changes during the transition. This implies that deterioration already existed. From their undergraduate period to four months after they began working as nurses, a significant decrease was observed in the quality of sleep. Participants’ quality of life significantly decreased. Conclusions: Changes in the quality of life of new graduate nurses may show deterioration with a significant drop in subjective sleep quality. Institutions should improve existing work adaptation programs provided during new graduate nurses’ transition to practice by including information on changes in nurses’ health caused by changes in sleep characteristics and sleep quality.

Healthy sleep and nursing

“…1 In a recent study of 88 newly graduated nurses working in a tertiary hospital in South Korea, Kim and Lee found a significant decline in subjective sleep quality over the first four months of undertaking shift work as a nurse, which was associated with a decline in quality of life. 23 Similarly, Donovan and colleagues reported emotional, physical and mental exhaustion was often attributed to sleep deprivation during the graduate year of nursing and midwifery. 24 Epstein and colleagues also explored sleep during the graduate year and found graduate nurses had limited and potentially counterproductive strategies to cope with fatigue.…”

Sleep Quality and Stress Experienced with Quality of Life Among Nurses Working in Private Hospitals in Kathmandu, Nepal: A Cross-sectional Study

“…Participants responded to the questions using a 5-point scale, and the total sum of these responses yields a final score ranging from 0 to 28. The total score allows for the differentiation of following severity levels: absence of insomnia (0-7), subthreshold insomnia (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14), moderate insomnia (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21), and severe insomnia (22-28).…”

“…Studies reporting prevalence rates between 60% to 75% evaluated deprived sleep quality [7,8]. Studies have additionally connected insufficient rest with an expanded number of clinical blunders among medical staff and other work-related injuries [10]. Long hours in nursing have a variety of effects on nurses' quality of life, the most prevalent of which is a reduction in sleep quality [11].…”

Healthier Dietary Patterns Are Associated with Better Sleep Quality among Shanghai Suburban Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Good sleep is critical for both mental and physical well-being, as well as a high quality of life, which plays a crucial role in maintaining human homeostasis and promoting health [ 1 ]. But a lot of things about modern life, like staying up late working, engaging in more activities at night, and using screens for electronic media more often, can cause sleep issues [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Numerous studies have shown a constant link between poor sleep quality and multimorbidity, such as mental dysfunctions, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity [ 5 ].…”