Promoting Nurses Management of Night Shift Sleepiness

Promoting Nurses Management of Night Shift Sleepiness by Sunday Iken Okundolor Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, California State University, Long Beach, 2013 MSN, California State University, Los Angeles, 2008 BSN, California State University, Los Angeles, 1999 ADN, Los Angeles Southwest College, Los Angeles, 1992 Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice Walden University February 2019 Abstract Nurses are largely unaware of the problems of night-shift-nurse sleepiness and available strategies to manage night-shift sleepiness. The purpose of this project was to examine nurses’ self-perception, awareness of sleepiness, and current strategies to manage this problem in the emergency medicine department of a major academic hospital in the western United States. The validated de-identified Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS)Nurses are largely unaware of the problems of night-shift-nurse sleepiness and available strategies to manage night-shift sleepiness. The purpose of this project was to examine nurses’ self-perception, awareness of sleepiness, and current strategies to manage this problem in the emergency medicine department of a major academic hospital in the western United States. The validated de-identified Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) was used to measure the prevalence and intensity of night shift nurses’ sleepiness prior to the development of an educational program on strategies to manage sleepiness. Of the 164 registered nurses surveyed, 72 (43.9%) reported sleepiness greater than 7 on the KSS. An educational program was developed and evaluated by a panel of 6 experts who were selected on their clinical, educational, quality improvement, and research in sleep studies. Expert reviews indicated that the education program was 100% relevant, appropriate, and understandable, and provided adequate information on the topic with no recommended changes. The education program was presented to 16 night shift nurses with a pre/posttest survey completed by 14 nurses. Results indicated that participating nurses increased their knowledge of managing strategies for sleepiness from 69% (agree or strongly agree) preintervention to 92% postintervention. Postintervention, there was a 50% increase in the number of nurses who reported benefits from the education intervention. The findings of this project contribute to positive social change by improving nurses’ health and quality patient care by advancing nurses’ awareness of night shift sleepiness and countermeasure management strategies. Promoting Nurses Management of Night Shift Sleepiness by Sunday Iken Okundolor Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, California State University, Long Beach, 2013 MSN, California State University, Los Angeles, 2008 BSN, California State University, Los Angeles, 1999 ADN, Los Angeles Southwest College, Los Angeles Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice Walden University February 2019 Dedication This study is dedicated first and foremost to all night shift nurses in this public academic hospital in Los Angeles and all nurses any where who are working innovatively and relentlessly to advance patient experience and outcomes and globally improve the well-being of people in general and the nursing profession in particular. This study is also dedicated in loving memory of my father, Chief James Okundolor Esobakponwmen, “The Ikuobasoyewmen of The Great Benin Kingdom,” Nigeria: I dedicate this project in your twentieth remembrance anniversary for always empowering, supporting and inculcating in me the sense of educational achievement, family love, and community service. Also I dedicate this project to my mother, Mrs. Atiti Comfort Okundolor; my brother, Mr. Benjamin Okundolor; my daughter, Chelsea Osaro Okundolor; and the entire Okundolor family all over the world for always believing in me. This is for you, the Okundolor family. In addition, I dedicate this to my brother Mr. Omoruyi Okundolor who was murdered in cold blood in Benin-City, Nigeria during this journey. Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge everyone who has aided me through intellectual support and guidance, especially my project chair, Dr. Cheryl McGinnis, for rescuing this project, rigorously and meticulously assisting me through completion of this journey. Also, I want to acknowledge Dr. Elisabeth Johnson-Kallos for editorial assistance. In addition, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my daughter, Chelsea Osaro Okundolor, for her hard work, self-reliance, and self-motivation to be successful, which has given me the space and time needed for this doctoral work. Further acknowledgment goes to my cousin and adviser Ms. Elizabeth Osifo Ehigiator.