ArticleBMC nursing2025
The relationship between shift work, circadian rhythms, and cognitive function in ICU nursing.
Article in BMC nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Determinants of nursing care rationing among nurses employed in surgical and conservative hospital wards.BMC nursing · 2026Article
- Association Between Surgical Timing and Perioperative Outcomes in Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Effects of Shift Work Type on Sleep Quality and Cortisol Regulation Among Nurses: A Prospective Observational Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Observational
- Do microbiota rhythms influence cognitive performance? - A narrative review.Frontiers in molecular neuroscience · 2026Review
- Effects of Night Shifts on Sleep, Cognitive Performance, and Anxiety in Emergency Nurses: An Observational Within-Subject Study.Journal of nursing management · 2026Observational
- Latent class analysis of sleep-related worry and its influencing factors among shift work nurses: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Intensive care unit nurses' perceptions of night-work-related chronic fatigue and cognitive function: a cross-sectional survey.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Incidence and risk factors for nursing-related intraoperative incidents: A 5-year retrospective study at a Japanese tertiary care hospital.Japan journal of nursing science : JJNS · 2025Observational
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNurses work 24-hour shifts due to the critical importance of patient care. The human body has a circadian rhythm that regulates many physiological activities. Shift work is associated with decreased melatonin levels and disruption of the circadian rhythm. Given the vital role of cognitive functions such as working memory and attention, this study investigated the impact of circadian rhythm disturbances on the cognitive performance of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in Qazvin City, Iran.
methodsThe study population consisted of 36 nurses. The assessment tools included a demographic questionnaire, a circadian rhythm questionnaire, and cognitive function tests (attention and working memory) using the Stroop Test and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, administered at the beginning and end of each of the three shifts. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, and frequency percentages. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine the normality of the data. The data analysis involved analytical statistics using mixed-effects models performed using R software version 4. The significance level was at p < 0.05 for the present study.
resultsThe nurses exhibited a high degree of circadian rhythm inflexibility, with 83.3% classified as " inflexibile" and 91.7% as " vigorous ".|The nurses' cognitive performance was highest during the morning shift, with better attention and working memory abilities. A one-unit increase in the stability and amplitude of the circadian rhythm was associated with reductions in memory span, congruent response time, and incongruent response time during the evening and night shifts.
conclusionGiven the observed decline in specific cognitive functions during evening and night shifts, the likelihood of increased errors during these shifts is heightened. The cumulative effect of circadian rhythm disruptions can manifest as diminished cognitive performance. The rhythm stability and amplitude could serve as predictive indicators for staffing shift work systems to prevent errors and enhance the system's efficiency.
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