New UVic research into physical markers of stress among nurses finds disrupted sleep patterns

New research from the University of Victorialooking at the physiological impacts of stress onnurses shows that many have disrupted sleep patterns and other markers of stress.

The study, fundedby UVic's Centre for Occupational Research and Testing, is being spearheaded bygraduate student Marisa Harrington and her supervisorLynneth Stuart-Hill, an occupational physiologist and associate professor at UVic.

In it, 10 Victoria-area hospital nurses wore a watch-sized monitor and chest strap heart-rate monitorduring an eight-day shift rotation where they workedfour days on,including twoday shifts and two night shifts, and four daysoff. They also contributed saliva samples during the testing period.

Harringtonremotelyrecorded nurses' sleeping patterns, heart rate variability and biomarkers within their saliva including levels ofmelatoninwhich plays a role in sleep-wakecycles, the stress hormone cortisoland interleukin-6 which affects inflammation.

Harrington said while the results are preliminary, there are clear trends aroundsleep and heart rate variability.

Compared to the average adult who has light sleep, deep sleep and rapid eye movement or REM sleep, nurses were spending a lot more time in light sleep and less time in deeper REM sleep, she said.

"We've seen heightened activation of the sympathetic system, or the fight-or-flight response. Even lasting into [their] days off. These are nurses that aren't on shift. They are in day threeof their fourdays off, and they're still having this heightened cardiovascular stress response even when they're not on shift," said Harrington.

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Harrington says this physiological tollcould have longer-term impacts, including increasing the potential for stroke, diabetesand hypertension.

This study fits into broader research into the stress responses of shift workers. Harrington says much of the research in this fieldfocused on male-dominated professions like military, policing,firefighting, search and rescue,but not into the profession nursing.

The COVID-19 pandemic also adds an additional layer of complexity.

"Before the pandemic, there was tons of evidence that nursing was a stressful profession. And working during the pandemic has only exacerbated that," Harrington said. "There's always a potential down the road, say once this pandemic ends, to do the same type of measurement again and see if the responses are similar in a COVID world and in a post-COVID world."

Harrington will continue with a new round of study subjects in the coming months,with most of the research set to conclude this spring.

Listen to the segment on CBC's All Points West: