Stress in the Lives of Nurses and the Impact of Night Shifts on Their Psychophysical Condition

Session

Medicine and Nursing

Description

Introduction: Within the provision of healthcare, the need for 24-hour nursing care requires nurses to work in shift systems. Night shift rotations are a common practice in nursing, particularly in specialized units. Research on shift work and its impact on nurses remains limited, and studies have tended to focus on different aspects. Evidence suggests that fatigue may negatively affect nurses’ health, work performance, safety, and consequently the quality of patient care. These effects of fatigue may be even more pronounced in nurses over the age of 40. Over time, nursing work has changed with greater use of technology and increased patient care demands, requiring more careful interpretation, equitable approaches, and attentive care. This has made direct patient care an increasingly high-responsibility task. Aim: To study night shift work and its effects on nurses’ health. The focus was on the impact of work-related stress on their psychological, health-related, professional, and family well-being. Methodology: The study was qualitative in nature. Data collection was carried out through a questionnaire administered to nurses. The instrument “Effects of Night Shift Schedules on Nurses Working” (Sizeni Madid, 2003) was adapted and divided into sections: demographic data, sleep-related data, work performance, psychological aspects, and health aspects. Questionnaires were distributed to nurses working night shifts after 19:00. The study sample consisted of 60 nurses employed at UCCK (University Clinical Center of Kosovo), in the Clinics of Surgery and Neurosurgery. Day-shift nurses, as well as physicians, cleaners, social workers, and other staff, were excluded from the study. Results: The findings revealed that among the 60 participants, 22 were male and 38 were female nurses. The responses indicated that nurses were significantly affected in terms of psychological well-being, sleep, and various health aspects. A high percentage reported being impacted by problems such as headaches, stomach pain, sleep disturbances, and leg pain. Sleep deprivation after night shifts was also a prominent issue, with many nurses reporting the use of energy drinks, alcohol, prolonged music listening, or sleeping tablets to cope. Additionally, 58% of nurses stated that their social life had changed and was severely affected by night shifts.

Keywords:

Nurses, night shifts, fatigue, performance

Proceedings Editor

Edmond Hajrizi

ISBN

978-9951-982-41-2

Location

UBT Lipjan, Kosovo

Start Date

25-10-2025 9:00 AM

End Date

26-10-2025 6:00 PM

DOI

10.33107/ubt-ic.2025.363

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Oct 25th, 9:00 AM Oct 26th, 6:00 PM

Stress in the Lives of Nurses and the Impact of Night Shifts on Their Psychophysical Condition

UBT Lipjan, Kosovo

Introduction: Within the provision of healthcare, the need for 24-hour nursing care requires nurses to work in shift systems. Night shift rotations are a common practice in nursing, particularly in specialized units. Research on shift work and its impact on nurses remains limited, and studies have tended to focus on different aspects. Evidence suggests that fatigue may negatively affect nurses’ health, work performance, safety, and consequently the quality of patient care. These effects of fatigue may be even more pronounced in nurses over the age of 40. Over time, nursing work has changed with greater use of technology and increased patient care demands, requiring more careful interpretation, equitable approaches, and attentive care. This has made direct patient care an increasingly high-responsibility task. Aim: To study night shift work and its effects on nurses’ health. The focus was on the impact of work-related stress on their psychological, health-related, professional, and family well-being. Methodology: The study was qualitative in nature. Data collection was carried out through a questionnaire administered to nurses. The instrument “Effects of Night Shift Schedules on Nurses Working” (Sizeni Madid, 2003) was adapted and divided into sections: demographic data, sleep-related data, work performance, psychological aspects, and health aspects. Questionnaires were distributed to nurses working night shifts after 19:00. The study sample consisted of 60 nurses employed at UCCK (University Clinical Center of Kosovo), in the Clinics of Surgery and Neurosurgery. Day-shift nurses, as well as physicians, cleaners, social workers, and other staff, were excluded from the study. Results: The findings revealed that among the 60 participants, 22 were male and 38 were female nurses. The responses indicated that nurses were significantly affected in terms of psychological well-being, sleep, and various health aspects. A high percentage reported being impacted by problems such as headaches, stomach pain, sleep disturbances, and leg pain. Sleep deprivation after night shifts was also a prominent issue, with many nurses reporting the use of energy drinks, alcohol, prolonged music listening, or sleeping tablets to cope. Additionally, 58% of nurses stated that their social life had changed and was severely affected by night shifts.