Abstract
Background Workers who engage in shift work can experience considerable disruption of family and social activities. Aim of the study: to assess the impact of night shift work on Health status of nurses. Subjects & Methods: Research design: a descriptive correlational design used. Setting: Emergent outpatient department and intensive care unit at Sohag University Hospital. Subjects :(44) staff nurses. Tool of data collection: A structured interview questionnaire consists of two parts; Personal characteristics and job sheet; Night shift questionnaire. Results: both intensive care unit (ICU) unit and Emergent outpatient department (EOPD) all of the study sample were females, (72.7%), aged less than 30 year, and (59.1%) had less than 10 years of experience. About (81.8%) at ICU and (90.9%) at EOPD were not enough sleep after night shift. More than two third at ICU and EOPD there is workload at the night shift. And (54.6%) at ICU and (77.3%) at EOPD the night shift were high effect on their behavior and mood. Also about (87.5%) at ICU and all nurses at EOPD agreed night shift increase conflict in their family. Lastly (40.9%) at ICU and (68.2%) at EOPD mentioned the night shift work affects their health. Conclusion: The highest percent of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses and Emergent outpatient department (EOPD) nurses, does not participate in scheduling, they were not enough sleep after night shift, and the night shift was almost high effect on their behavior and mood. Also the majority of nurses at ICU and EOPD agreed night shift increase conflict in their family and affects their health. Recommendations: Nurses should be given the opportunity to participate in their own schedules, and provide sufficient number and diversity of staff to work in each unit.