Job stress and its impact on daytime sleepiness among nurses in Palestine: a cross-sectional study

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a growing public health concern particularly concerning healthcare workers like nurses due to demanding schedules. Job stress significantly contributes to health issues, including sleep disturbance, and its relationship with EDS in nurses has implications for patient care. This study examined the prevalence of EDS and its association with job stress among Palestinian nurses. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used with the Arabic versions of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Nursing Stress Scale (NSS). A convenience sample of 392 nurses from 16 Palestinian hospitals in the North West Bank was recruited, with 345 valid responses (88% response rate). Data were collected via a self-report questionnaire and analyzed via descriptive and inferential statistics. Pearson correlation assessed the relationship between job stress and EDS. Multiple linear regression identified significant predictors. A weak but statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.126, p = 0.019) was found between job stress and EDS, suggesting a modest effect size. Notably, the prevalence of EDS was high (37.7%). The most reported stressors were workload (AM = 1.39) and exposure to death and dying (AM = 1.19). Lower work experience and not engaging in stress-relieving activities predicted EDS, while gender, academic level, and hospital type predicted job stress. Although the correlation was weak, its clinical relevance lies in the cumulative impact of stress and sleepiness on patient safety and nurse well-being. Interventions are needed to reduce job stress and improve sleep hygiene among nurses. Further research should explore causal mechanisms and tailor interventions to nurse subgroups.