Nightshift Work Performance and Safety and Its Physiological Effect among Nurses

Abstract

Background: Earlier Night shift work has been associated with physiological strain and potential threats to nurse performance and patient safety. studies examined cognitive anxiety and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help separately Aims: To determine the relationship between night shift work performance and safety and its physiological effects among nurses in a selected hospital Iloilo City.   Study Design: Descriptive correlational design. Place and Duration of Study: Private college of nursing in Iloilo City, Philippines, second semester, AY 2025 to 2026. Methodology: A total of 100 registered nurses who worked full or rotating night shifts were selected through Total Enumeration sampling. Tools used were the Demographic Profile and Night Shift Effects on Nurses’ Health Scale and Performance, Safety, and Physiological Impact of Night Shift Work Scale. The Kolmogorov Smirnov test checked normality.  Spearman rho tested relationships. Ethical clearance was secured. Results: Findings revealed that the majority of nurses assigned to night shifts were female, belonged to the early young adult age group, had more than one year of work experience, and reported short sleep durations. Despite the challenges commonly associated with night shift work, the nurses demonstrated a high level of performance and safety, particularly in terms of interpersonal support and coordinated efforts among healthcare staff. However, some difficulties were still observed in relation to patient cooperation and the physiological demands of night shift work while physiological effects, the nurses reported that they were generally able to remain active during night shifts. Nevertheless, some respondents expressed concerns about obtaining sufficient sleep and maintaining a healthy lifestyle while working night duty. The study found a moderate positive relationship between performance and safety and physiological effects. Conclusion: Young female nurses with short sleep duration and limited sleep enhancing practices generally perceived that performance and safety were maintained during night shifts, particularly in terms of teamwork, although patient cooperation posed challenges. Physiological effects were perceived to be minimal overall; however, concerns related to healthy lifestyle maintenance were noted. The study found a moderate positive relationship between performance and safety and physiological effects, suggesting that physiological experiences influence work function during night duty. The study concludes that while demonstrating adaptability and sustained performance during night shifts, physiological well-being remains an essential factor in maintaining safety and quality of care.