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Nurses' sleep duration and quality have declined significantly over recent decades

A meta-regression of 280 studies involving 219,245 nurses found a significant decline of 28.7 minutes in sleep duration between 1985 and 2022 (95% CI: 26.2, 33.1, ES: 0.43) and a 1.6-point increase in global PSQI scores between 1990 and 2023, indicating poorer sleep quality (95% CI: 1.47, 1.77, ES: 0.49). These trends suggest an increased risk of fatigue, impaired clinical performance, staff burnout, and work-related accidents.

Last updated: Aug 29, 2026•0 RCTs•1 Meta-analyses•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score49/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis★★★☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Trends in Nurses' Sleep: A Meta-Regression Involving 219,245 Nurses From 45 Countries.

meta

Santostefano LG, Lushington K, Banks S, Tomkinson GR, Lang JJ, Graham K, Ruf H, Stewart K, Howland K, Headland M, Musker M, Matricciani L · Journal of nursing management (2026)

Participants: 219245
Duration: 1985-2023
Intervention: Not applicable (observational trend analysis)
Outcome: Sleep duration (minutes) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI)
Effect Size: ES=0.43 for sleep duration decline; ES=0.49 for PSQI increase
Population: Nurses from 45 countries (n=219,245)

Result: A meta-regression of 280 studies involving 219,245 nurses found a significant decline of 28.7 minutes in sleep duration between 1985 and 2022 (95% CI: 26.2, 33.1, ES: 0.43) and a 1.6-point increase in global PSQI scores between 1990 and 2023, indicating poorer sleep quality (95% CI: 1.47, 1.77, ES: 0.49). These trends suggest an increased risk of fatigue, impaired clinical performance, staff burnout, and work-related accidents.

PubMed: 42661299DOI: 10.1155/jonm/9051680

Mechanism Graph

Intensified nursing workplace demands over recent decades
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Increased workload and stress among nurses
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Reduced opportunities for adequate sleep
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Decline in sleep duration and quality

Limitations

  • ⚠Observational design cannot establish causality
  • ⚠Heterogeneity across studies in measurement methods (self-report vs. actigraphy) and geographic regions may affect comparability

Frequently Asked Questions

How much has nurses' sleep duration declined over time?▼

Nurses' sleep duration declined by an average of 28.7 minutes between 1985 and 2022.

What is the impact on nurses' sleep quality?▼

Sleep quality, measured by PSQI, worsened by 1.6 points between 1990 and 2023, indicating poorer sleep quality.

What are the potential consequences of this decline in nurses' sleep?▼

The decline may increase the risk of fatigue, impaired clinical performance, staff burnout, and work-related accidents.

What interventions are suggested to improve nurses' sleep?▼

The study highlights the need for nurse managers to recognize staff susceptibility to poor sleep and proactively develop strategies that promote healthy sleep.

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References

  1. 1.Santostefano LG, Lushington K, Banks S, Tomkinson GR, Lang JJ, Graham K, Ruf H, Stewart K, Howland K, Headland M, Musker M, Matricciani L. "Trends in Nurses' Sleep: A Meta-Regression Involving 219,245 Nurses From 45 Countries.." Journal of nursing management, 2026. PMID: 42661299 DOI: 10.1155/jonm/9051680
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.