The study, co-authored by Drs. Diana McMillan, Wendy Fallis and Marie Edwards, of the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, focused on 13 critical care nurses who met individually with one of the researchers and completed a tape-recorded semi-structured interview.

A strategy to assist nurses to promote sleep health within the complex context of their own sleep needs, organizational demands and domestic responsibilities is greatly needed for both critical care nurses and the patients in their care," the study authors said in a statement.

The findings, presented at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Baltimore, identified a number of personal health, safety, and patient safety factors that support the need for a restorative nap during the night shift.

"Napping has been suggested as a strategy to improve performance, reduce fatigue and increase vigilance in other shift work environments," McMillan said in statement. "Surprisingly, little work has been done to support effective napping strategies in critical care nurses."