Table 1.

Guidelines for implementing naps on the night shift for hospital nurses

Who should nap?

Ideally, all nurses working between the hours of midnight and 6 AM If insufficient staff to allow all night shift nurses to nap, the following should be given priority: Nurses with self-perceived sleepiness Those with driving commutes greater than 20 minutes, or on highways or rural roads Nurses who have shiftwork sleep disorder, sleep apnea, insomnia or other sleep disorders, or those with a chronic medical disorder Nurses who are rotating shifts rather than on a fixed shift, especially if no sleep is taken prior to the first shift, or if there are three shifts in a row

Where should naps occur?

The nap environment should ideally be: Private and safe, preferably with a locked door Dark, quiet and cool Nearby to the nursing unit if time is not allowed to get to the room Has a timer or clock, bed or fully reclining chair, clean linen

How long should a nap be?

The duration of a nap is important-naps that are too long increase the risk for sleep inertia A nap of 20–30 minutes is ideal, briefer naps may also be restorative if this is all that is possible If a longer nap is possible, a nap of 90 minutes could be used, but nothing between 30 and 90 minutes to prevent sleep inertia

What time should naps be taken?

Any sleep is preferable to no sleep, but ideally naps that are taken after midnight may help to alleviate sleepiness during this period Naps from 3 to 5 AM may make it more difficult to wake up but will provide more alertness at the end of the shift

What is the best way to prevent sleep inertia?

Nurses that have significant sleep deprivation prior to the nap are more likely to have sleep inertia compared to those who are achieving adequate sleep prior to the shift. Keeping naps short and providing a time to wake up and move about before resuming duties will help.