Intra‑individual Study: Quick Returns, Sleepiness, and Restedness in Nurses
Summary
This within-person field study followed 90 nurses and assistant nurses who each experienced both an evening→day “quick return” (less than 11 hours between shifts) and a normal day→day schedule. Using actigraphy (a wrist-worn sleep tracker) plus daily diaries, quick returns were linked to about 1 hour less sleep, worse self-rated sleep quality, more sleepiness while at work, and more anxiety at bedtime the very next day. Objective sleep fragmentation (how broken up sleep was) and stress ratings did not differ between the two schedules.
Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls
Short turnarounds shrink the time to commute, unwind, and sleep—and the next-day hit shows up as less sleep and more sleepiness on the job. If you can, avoid quick returns (especially evening→day). When they’re unavoidable: protect a fixed wind-down, prioritize sleep time, keep caffeine to the early part of the prior shift, and plan a safe commute when you’ll likely feel sleepier.
Notes
Focus on subjective sleepiness/restedness.