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. 2025 Jul;81(7):3692-3702.
doi: 10.1111/jan.16483. Epub 2024 Sep 24.

How Shift Nurses' Presenteeism is Related to Insomnia and Care Left Undone: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Generalised Structural Equation Modelling

Yoonjung Ji  1 , Ari Min  2 , Minkyung Kang  3 , Chang Park  4
Affiliations

How Shift Nurses' Presenteeism is Related to Insomnia and Care Left Undone: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Generalised Structural Equation Modelling

Yoonjung Ji et al. J Adv Nurs. 2025 Jul.

Abstract

Aim: To examine the association between nurses' insomnia, presenteeism and care left undone and explore the mediating effect of presenteeism on the relationship between insomnia and care left undone among nurses in acute care hospitals, applying a dynamic model of presenteeism and absenteeism.

Design: A cross-sectional design.

Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted using online survey data collected in January 2023. Participants were 1154 registered nurses who provided direct nursing care to patients in tertiary or general hospitals (hospitals with 300 or more beds) in South Korea. Poisson regression analysis was used to examine the association between nurses' insomnia, presenteeism and care left undone. Generalised structural equation modelling was performed to examine the mediating effect of presenteeism on the relationship between insomnia and care left undone.

Results: The prevalence of insomnia was 15.3%. More than half of the participants (63.7%) reported experiencing presenteeism in the past 4 weeks. All reported at least one nursing care left undone during their last shift. Insomnia and presenteeism were positively associated with care left undone, and presenteeism mediated the relationship between insomnia and care left undone among nurses in acute care hospitals.

Conclusion: Nurses experienced insomnia and presenteeism, related to higher rates of care left undone. Nurses' insomnia had a direct effect on care left undone and an indirect effect through presenteeism.

Implications for the profession: Nurse managers and administrators need to make greater efforts to reduce insomnia and presenteeism among nurses, thereby reducing care left undone and improving patient safety in acute care settings.

Impact: Nurse managers and administrators should consider proactive interventions to address nurses' insomnia and foster a workplace with healthy systems and culture to reduce sleep disturbance and presenteeism, which can effectively decrease care left undone.

Reporting method: STROBE guidelines.

Patient or public contribution: No patient or public contribution.

Keywords: care left undone; insomnia; missed nursing care; nurses; presenteeism; unfinished care.

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