Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Education

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Department

College of Nursing

First Advisor

Robin Chard

Publication Date / Copyright Date

2017

Publisher

Nova Southeastern University

Abstract

Background: Due to arduous demands of graduate education, advanced practice nursing (APN) students who are classified as adult learners are at risk for suffering sleep deprivation. Factors contributing to sleep deprivation include stress, expected academic challenges, and everyday life stressors. Purpose: This study investigated if APN students’ grade-point average (GPA), gender, and employment status predicted levels of daytime sleepiness. Theoretical Framework. The psychological well-being model selected for this study was consistent with the theory that sleep is a resource essential to well-being; adequate sleep is the resource needed to optimally manage stressful life demands. Methods. Bivariate and multiple regression were employed to examine the relationship between GPA, gender, and employment status with daytime sleepiness on a sample of APN students (N = 123) in their second academic year. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale and a demographic questionnaire were used to record data on GPA, gender, and employment status. Results. Results showed ESS and GPA were negatively correlated and statistically significant (r = -.24, p < .05). This indicates that as the tendency for sleepiness increased, GPA decreased, thereby supporting the alternative hypothesis. Although not statistically significant, employed participants reported greater daytime sleepiness, as did women. Conclusions: When GPA, gender, and employment were combined, multiple correlation showed a statistically significant shared variance of 8% with daytime sleepiness, due primarily to the correlation between GPA and daytime sleepiness. The effect size of shared variance was between small and medium with respect to magnitude of importance.

Disciplines

Nursing

Keywords

Health and environmental sciences, Education, Advanced practice nursing, Education, Sleep

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Nursing Commons

 
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