Impact of Night Shift on Nurse’s Physical and Mental Health: A Quantitative Descriptive Cross-sectional Study at MMC Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Asad Ullah; Absheen Rahman; Muhammad Adil; Muhammad Saqib Ullah Khan; Takbir Ullah; Ahmad Khan; Noor Ullah

doi:10.70749/ijbr.v3i10.2540

Authors

Asad Ullah Medical Teaching Institute, College of Nursing, Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
Absheen Rahman Medical Teaching Institute, College of Nursing, Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
Muhammad Adil Medical Teaching Institute, College of Nursing, Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
Muhammad Saqib Ullah Khan District Head Quarter Hospital, Kohat, KP, Pakistan.
Takbir Ullah Elizabeth Rani College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
Ahmad Khan Elizabeth Rani College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
Noor Ullah Elizabeth Rani College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i10.2540

Keywords:

Night shift, nurses’ health, physical well-being, mental health, cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Introduction: Night shift work is a common requirement in nursing but is associated with significant physical and psychological challenges. This quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of night shift duties on the physical and mental health of nurses working in MMC Mardan. Methods: A total of 142 registered nurses with more than one year of professional experience were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS version 26. Results: The finding reveals that a considerable proportion of nurses experienced persistent fatigue (35.2%), poor sleep quality (32.4%), headaches (35.2%), digestive issues (33.1%), and musculoskeletal pain (28.2%) after night shifts. In terms of mental health, a majority reported increased stress (30.3%), anxiety (29.6%), and depressive feelings (24.6%). Social and work-related challenges included difficulty balancing personal and professional life (35.2%) and a moderate negative impact on personal relationships (23.9%). Although some nurses reported coping mechanisms and employer support, these measures were not sufficient to counteract the adverse effects. Conclusions: The findings indicate that night shift work significantly affects nurses’ physical health, emotional well-being, and social functioning, highlighting the need for improved scheduling policies, supportive programs, and preventive strategies to promote nurse health and patient care quality.

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