Given the complexity of health care, the aging RN workforce, and patient safety issues; RNs who experience “poor” sleep may be compromising their level of performance. Lower performance levels have been linked to longer reaction times, and decreases in memory, attention and judgment (Monk, 2000; Trinkoff, Storr, & Lipscomb, 2001). The conceptual model for this research study was derived from Neuman’s (1995), and Neuman & Fawcett (2002) Systems Model, and Monk’s (2000) Shift Work Coping Model. Stressors have the ability to cause system imbalances when they penetrate the flexible and normal lines of defense (Neuman, 1995); Neuman & Fawcett, 2002). Middle-aged women engaged in shift-work experience common stressors such as life event stress, role and job strain, and perimenopausal symptoms. These stressors have the ability to individually and/or collectively penetrate the lines of defense, resulting in system imbalance or poor quality of sleep. One’s beliefs about sleep, as well as one’s knowledge and awareness of sleep hygiene may have the ability to strengthen the lines of defense by influencing sleep hygiene practices. The use of sleep hygiene practices may protect or prevent “poor” quality of sleep. A cross sectional survey design was used to examine the relationships among life event stress, role and job strain, and sleep in middle-aged female shift-workers. Subjects were recruited from a regional rural Midwestern hospital. A supplemental analysis examined group differences for “good” and “poor” sleepers. Over a hundred (N=102) RNs participated in the study. Almost three fourths (74%) of the RNs were categorized as “poor” sleepers. They were predominantly white (96%, N=100), with a mean age of 52.7 (SD=7.4). Life event stress, role strain, job strain and perimenopausal symptoms were all significant predictors of decreased quality of sleep.
Session #1202 - Professional Nursing Practice
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)