ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of sleep quality on day cycle work fatigue in ward nurses.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Through a cluster sampling of three hospitals, 479 clinical frontline nurses were investigated in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. Using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate sleep quality; Using self-reported work-related fatigue symptom scale to evaluate day cycle fatigue status; common information was also collected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sleep quality of ward nurses is generally poor, with total PSQI score 7.31 +/- 3.45. 41.75% ward nurses have total PSQI score over 7, the total PSQI score showed a negative linear correlation with educational background (r = -0.11, P = 0.01), educational background also represented a negative correlation with sleep quality, sleep latency and sleep duration; there are no correlation between sleep and marriage, work age, professional title and duty. Work-related fatigue was closely correlated with sleep quality: Total PSQI score showed a positive correlation with four daytime points fatigue in the next day (r = 0.42, r = 0.34, r = 0.25, r = 0.33, P < 0.01). Total PSQI score is also related to five fatigue factors in four daytime points. There are significant correlation between seven factors of sleep and fatigue levels of four time points. Multiple regression analysis showed that Sleep quality, day function; sleep disturbance and drug use pay important part in work fatigue. There is no correlation between sleep quality and delayed off-work (r = 0.06, P = 0.17).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Managers should think highly of sleep quality of ward nurses, acknowledge its degree of work fatigue and apply evidence based methods arrange work responsibility and follow sheet, then rationalize human resources management, emphasize sleep hygiene education, improve sleep quality and reduce work fatigue.</p>