Stress In The Life Of Nurses And The Impact Of Night Shifts On Their Psychophysical Well-Being

Migena Tasholli

Abstract


Introduction: Night shifts pose significant challenges and contribute to psychophysical changes among nurses. Twelve-hour shifts are associated with an increased risk of patient care errors, occupational accidents, and work-related injuries. Stress and other workplace factors may further compromise overall health. Night work often results in disturbances in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, and an increase in psychosomatic complaints such as irritability and feelings of helplessness. Extended and irregular shifts place a heavy burden on nurses, diminishing work performance and raising the likelihood of frequent errors.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of night shifts on nurses’ psychophysical well-being, with particular focus on occupational stress. The study sought to capture nurses’ perceptions of night work, its impact on their social lives, and its broader implications for health and job performance.

Methodology: A quantitative qualitative design was applied. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire distributed to nurses. The study population included nurses employed at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK), involving both genders and all age groups. The sample consisted of 60 nurses.

Results: Findings showed that 55% of the nurses worked night shifts, with nearly 85% reporting such work for longer than 24 months. A total of 68% stated they accepted night shifts due to additional pay, while more than half noted that it aligned with their social life. Night work was considered tolerable by 77% of participants.

Conclusion: Nurses working night shifts are more likely to experience psychological and mental health challenges such as irritability, somatization, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, mood disturbances, and paranoid tendencies. These findings indicate that night shifts have a negative impact on nurses’ psychological health, social life, and quality of care delivered to patients.


Keywords


Night shifts, stress, nurses, psychophysical condition.

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.52155/ijpsat.v53.1.7552

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