Sleep quality, coping, and related depression: A cross‐sectional study of Turkish nurses

Background The sleep quality of nurses affects both their health and standard of nursing care. Working conditions, depression, and coping potential can also lead to sleep problems. Introduction Sleep plays a crucial role in overall health at every stage of life. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of sleep quality, depression, and coping mechanisms on the performance of nurses, whose sleep quality is strongly affected due to shift‐based work. Methods The sample of this descriptive correlational study consisted of 133 healthcare workers. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Coping Response Inventory (CRI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and evaluated using the t test, Mann–Whitney U test, one‐way ANOVA, Enter method, and linear regression. Findings One in three nurses reported having poor‐quality sleep, and one in two nurses said they felt sleepy during the day. With declining sleep quality, the nurses' ability to cope with stress diminished, and their degree of depression increased. Discussion The nurses' financial situation and level of depression were key factors that influenced their quality of sleep and capacity to handle stress. To improve nurses' sleep, the shift pattern needs to change. Conclusion To increase the quantity of sleep and enhance mental health, changes should be made to the shift schedules of nurses to allow for appropriate rest and reduce daytime sleepiness. Implications for nursing practice and policies Improved working conditions for nurses and updated nursing standards are required to improve nurses health and wellbeng.