Sleep inequities in nursing: A descriptive qualitative study on causes of poor sleep among black nurses in the United States

Abstract:

Background: Sleep is critical to general health and occupational safety of workers. Black nurses in the United States report
 sleeping less than their White counterparts, indicating sleep inequity exists. Understanding what workplace factors contributing
 to this inequity and suggestions for improvement are vital to protecting nurses.
 Methods: A descriptive qualitative research design with content analysis was used to examine focus group data from Black
 nurses working in the United States. Participants were invited to virtual focus groups or interviews to answer questions about
 their sleep. Questions were guided by the Social Ecological Model for Sleep.
 Results: Fifteen nurses participated. Four themes emerged: Societal Impact, Workplace, Interpersonal-Cultural Context, and
 Individual. Twelve sub-themes were identified that described factors that affect all nurses (i.e., night shift, long work hours)
 versus societal and interpersonal events tied to racism that are most impactful for Black nurses’ sleep. Participants offered six
 suggestions for changing the healthcare setting to increase a sense of belonging.
 Conclusions: To improve sleep equity among Black nurses working in healthcare settings, a holistic approach towards worker
 health and safety may help attenuate individual risks from poor sleep. Systemic organizational efforts to increase belonging
 among staff could benefit from fostering trusting relationships with Black nurses, as well as increasing the diversity of healthcare
 leaders and managers.

• Keywords:
• Black nurse; Health disparity; Healthcare workers; Insufficient sleep; Occupational fatigue; Workforce diversity