Impact of Night Shift on the Quality of Life among Nurses Working in a Hospital at Chitwan Nepal

Abstract

Background: The impact of the night shift is an important or noticeable effect perceived by nurses in the domain of physical health, psychosocial, and environmental health because of night shift. Quality of life is a measure of an individual's ability to function physically, emotionally, and socially within his/her environment at a level consistent with his/her expectations. Nursing is considered a stressful occupation. Stress implies health and the satisfaction level of the Nurses. The objective of the study was to find out the impact of the night shift on the quality of life among nurses.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was carried out in Bharatpur Hospital, Chitwan among 50 nurses working in the ICU, Medical, Obstetrical, pediatric, Observation, and Surgical units of Bharatpur Hospital. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the desired sample. Data were collected by using self- self-developed structure questionnaire. A descriptive analysis was done to find out the impact of the night shift on the quality of life among nurses.

Results: More than half (52.0%) of respondents had been impacted during the night shift. The majority (94%) of respondents experienced unwell during the night shift (94%), sustained occupational injury (88%), did not enough sleep after work, and had health affected anyway (78%).

Conclusion: It is concluded that more than half of respondents tend to be impacted by quality of life because of a night shift. Sufficient night intervals, proper staffing patterns, adequate night allowance, and better working conditions may help to improve the quality of life impacted by the night shift.