Document Type
DNP Project
Publication Date
4-2023
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Constance Glenn DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, CNE
Practice Mentor
Dr. Kassandra August-Marcuccio, RN, DNP
Abstract
Background and Significance: Shift work including work schedules beyond the typical "nine-to-five," causes the disruption of sleep-wake behaviors (Healy et al., 2021). The circadian misalignment is a potential pathway for the development of metabolic diseases, excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep deprivation, and declines in alertness and performance among night shift workers (James et al., 2017; McHugh et al., 2020; Parry et al., 2018). Emerging evidence suggests that physical activity synchronizes the sleep-wake cycles (Healy et al., 2021).
Purpose: This quality improvement project (QI) aimed to improve night-shift nurses ‘subjective daytime sleepiness by incorporating a 4-week worksite walking activity during working hours.
Design: This QI used a pre-post-design to compare the subjective daytime sleepiness scores of the night shift nurses before and after the walking intervention (WI).
Methods: A convenience sample of 12 registered nurses (RNs) and nursing assistants (NAs) was identified from three in-patient units in the southern New England facility. The model of Improvement and a Plan-Do-Study- Act (PDSA) cycle were utilized to drive the QI. An Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) survey was disseminated to the night-shift healthcare workers before and after the 4-week WI to evaluate the improvement of their subjective daytime sleepiness. The night-shift nursing staff walking activity was tracked using wrist-pedometers.
Results: Monitoring of the nursing staff’ subjective daytime sleepiness was continued for 3 months. There was a decrease in the nurses’ abnormal range of sleepiness from 33% at the beginning of the walking intervention (WI) to 16% post- WI.
Conclusions/Implications: This QI project did not induce a significant improvement but did create a decrease in subjective daytime sleepiness as well as a culture change among the night shift healthcare workers on the units at this facility where the WI was implemented.
Creative Commons License
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Recommended Citation
Sooh Nkongo, M. (2023). Use of a worksite physical activity to improve subjective daytime sleepiness among night shift healthcare workers: A quality improvement project [Unpublished DNP project]. Sacred Heart University.
Comments
A DNP project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice, Sacred Heart University Davis & Henley College of Nursing.