Sleep Health in Night Shift Nurses, Research Paper Example

It is but a general knowledge that the brain functions when it is well rested. In the same manner, nurses, who are working in the medical industry are in need of having sound mind especially when they are treating their patients. Since life is at stake, extreme concentration is needed. However, as notably understood, nurses are often required to work 36 hours straight to be able to imply proper monitoring of patients’ conditions. Other hospitals implement particular rules on shifting to make sure that their nurses perform at a better pace. With the onset of such situations, administrators make it a point to make sure that the nurses are able to perform well even when they are asked to attend to shifts that are uncomfortable or at some point not normal to the response of the human body. One way of doing so includes allowing nurses to nap during their shifts for at least 20 minutes when no certain emergencies are at bay. What is the effect of this practice on the health of the nurses? Does it benefit the hospital as well? These questions could be given response through proper research and examination of the issue at hand.

To be utilized as a primary reference for this research is the study promulgated by James Ruggiero and his colleagues (2014) entitled Effects of Napping on Sleepiness and Sleep-Related Performance Deficits in Night-Shift Workers: A Systematic Review. This reference further strengthens the concept of medical improvement suggested by the study in relation to how nurses perform at work based on a quasi-quantitative approach of research. With the use of this reference, creating indicative discussion about the importance of short naps at work shall be further given attention to based on the use of statistics and experimental operations specifically aiming to separate nurses who perform well after napping and those who have not gotten any short span sleep at all.

Regarding this topic, another issue to give attention to is that of the time limit allowed for nurses to take their power naps. According to the Nursing Times, nurses ought to be given the time to nap every now and again between shifts especially if they are expected to handle night shifts. The body cannot immediately adjust to being awake at night hence it is essential to allow the body refurbish the energy it loses through 15 to 20 minute naps in nap-cubicles. These few minutes are enough to give the nurses a chance to allow their brains to rest and be rejuvenated to work well again during the remaining hours of their duty. This reference could be considered as a secondary research material as it supports the goal of the first reference on the Effects of Napping in Performance through giving directive evidence that could insist on how napping indeed impact the capacity of nurses to handle stress and basic responsibilities while on duty. This is further supported by the response of the Press Association in an article where they mentioned how power naps boost the capacity of each nurse to perform competently while at duty. The 15 minutes or 20 minutes of rest ought to be undergone by each nurse as they take turns. This makes sure that no duty or responsibility during the said span of time is being neglected. Effective management of time and scheduling is necessary for this particular system to work properly. Both articles from Nursing Time are considered secondary resources as they present more of a news piece than an actual study. Nevertheless, they are considered essential to the discussion as they give updated support that further strengthens the capacity of the primary reference to present the facts about power napping and its relation to nurse-performance development.

The utilization of the information taken from both the primary and secondary resources presented herein strengthens the ideal claim of the study that indicates power napping as an essential point of performance appraisal among nurses. Relatively, it is through the application and scrutiny of these references that the presentation of facts and evidences in the study could be further strengthened.

References

Middleton, Jenny. (2008). Night-shift nurses must be allowed to take naps. http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/night-shift-nurses-must-be-allowed-to-take-naps/1737208.article. (Retrieved on July 9, 2014).

Middleton, Jenny. (2011). Benefits of napping on night shifts. http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/benefits-of-napping-on-night-shifts/5037467.article. (Retrieved on July 9, 2014).

Farmilo, Karen. (2014). Power Napping for Nurses. American Journal on Nursing.

The Press Association. Night shift napping boosts nurses’ performance and personal health.http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/critical-care/night-shift-napping-boosts-nurses-performance-and-personal-health/5029013.article. (Retrieved on July 9, 2014).

Ruggiero, J. (et al). (2014). Effects of Napping on Sleepiness and Sleep-Related Performance Deficits in Night-shift Workers: A Systematic Review. SAGE Publication.