The effects of the night shift on cognitive function and cerebral oxygenation/hemodynamics in sub-plateau-area PICU nurses

Night shift work is an essential part of hospital nursing, but it can disrupt nurses' biological rhythms, leading to sleep deprivation and fatigue, affecting cognitive function and cerebral oxygenation. This impact may be exacerbated in sub-plateau regions due to environmental factors. Existing research on the effects of night shifts on the cognitive function and cerebral oxygenation of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nurses in sub-plateau areas needs to be more extensive. This study utilized near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure 100 PICU nurses working in the sub-plateau area of Kunming, China, before and after their night shifts. The measured indicators included baseline cerebral oxygen saturation, verbal fluency task performance, and anxiety scores. After the night shift, the nurses' baseline cerebral oxygen saturation significantly decreased (t(99)=-5.23, p < 0.001), their verbal fluency task performance significantly declined (t(99)=-6.42, p < 0.001), and their anxiety scores significantly increased (t(99) = 1.96, p = 0.05). Multiple regression analysis indicated that baseline cerebral oxygen saturation was an independent predictor of verbal fluency and anxiety scores. Night shift work may lead to sleep deprivation and fatigue among PICU nurses in sub-plateau areas, impairing their cognitive function and cerebral oxygenation. The environmental characteristics of sub-plateau areas may exacerbate these effects. It is recommended that nurses' sleep and mental health be considered when scheduling night shifts and that practical measures be implemented to mitigate the adverse cognitive effects of night shifts.