Abstract
AIM: Poor sleep quality can impair nurses' ability to function effectively. We aimed to investigate the impact of sleep quality on the work functioning of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. METHODS: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted at an academic tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia between December 2023 and January 2024. Eligible participants included any ICU nurses. The self-administered questionnaire included basic demographics and questions from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Nurses Work Functioning Questionnaire (NWFQ). RESULTS: Of the 131 participants, 60 (45.8%) were 35-44 years old and 118 (90.1%) were females. The median [interquartile range] number of years working in the ICU was 8 [4-16]. Participants with poor sleep quality had a significantly higher median NWFQ score (27.57 vs. 17.44; p < 0.0001) and all the NWFQ subscales (p ≤ 0.02) except for the item 'conflicts and irritations with colleagues.' NWFQ scores demonstrated a moderate negative correlation with Global PSQI Scores (r(s) = -0.37; p < 0.0001) and mild-to-moderate negative correlations were observed with six of seven NWFQ subscales (r(s) = -0.21 to -0.41; p ≤ 0.05). Multivariable regression analysis revealed that none of the participants' characteristics were associated with poor work functioning. However, poor sleep was associated with poor work function (OR 4.29; 95% CI, 1.74-10.58). CONCLUSION: The sleep quality of ICU nurses was significantly associated with work functioning. Addressing sleep-related challenges is essential to ensuring high-quality patient care and the overall sustainability of the nursing profession.