When 1 in 3 Nurses Can’t Sleep, Healthcare Suffers
Every night, thousands of nurses finish grueling shifts only to lie awake, unable to quiet their racing minds. The statistics are sobering: 1 in 3 nurses report depression symptoms, and nearly half experience burnout. But what if the solution wasn’t another prescription—but something as simple as improving how they sleep?
We’re proud to announce groundbreaking research just published in Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine that offers hope for one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges.
The Problem: Healthcare’s Burnout Crisis
The nursing profession faces an unprecedented wellness crisis. Long shifts, emotional demands, and irregular schedules create a perfect storm for poor sleep and chronic stress. When nurses can’t rest, everyone suffers—from the quality of patient care to the sustainability of our healthcare system itself.
Traditional approaches have relied heavily on pharmaceutical interventions, but many nurses seek evidence-based alternatives that address root causes rather than masking symptoms.
The Research: Measuring What Matters
Led by Dr. Allison Norris at Columbia University, our 8-week study took an innovative approach to understanding and improving nurse wellness.
Our Methodology
We equipped nurses with Oura rings—cutting-edge wearable technology that continuously tracks:
- Sleep patterns and quality
- Physiological stress markers
- Heart rate variability
- Recovery metrics
This real-time data allowed us to test personalized, non-pharmacological sleep interventions and measure their impact with unprecedented precision.
The Breakthrough: Evidence-Based Solutions That Work
Key Discoveries
📉 Faster Sleep Onset Participants experienced a significant decrease in sleep latency—meaning they fell asleep faster using targeted interventions. For exhausted nurses, those extra minutes of sleep make a real difference.
🔍 Personalization Matters Different nurses benefited from different interventions. Our research identified which specific sleep aids were most effective for different individuals, proving that one-size-fits-all approaches fall short.
💤 Improved Sleep Quality Beyond just falling asleep faster, participants reported measurably better perceived sleep quality—waking more refreshed and ready to provide excellent patient care.
📱 Technology Validation We confirmed the feasibility of real-time physiological monitoring in healthcare settings, opening doors for scalable wellness programs that can track and respond to worker needs.
The Impact: From Research to Real-World Solutions
This research provides actionable solutions that don’t rely on pharmaceuticals. By improving sleep quality, we’re addressing a fundamental pillar of mental health and professional performance.
What This Means for Healthcare Organizations
- Evidence-based interventions you can implement today
- Measurable outcomes through wearable technology
- Personalized approaches that respect individual differences
- Scalable solutions for workforce wellness programs
What This Means for Nurses
Better sleep isn’t just about feeling rested—it’s about:
- Reduced burnout and depression symptoms
- Improved cognitive function during shifts
- Greater job satisfaction and retention
- Better work-life balance
Next Steps: Expanding the Impact
Our commitment to healthcare worker wellness continues as we expand this research into larger-scale implementations. Together, we can create healthier work environments that benefit both providers and patients.
Interested in Learning More?
If you’re a healthcare leader interested in implementing these evidence-based sleep interventions in your organization, we’d love to connect. Let’s work together to support the nurses who support us all.
Contact us to discuss how personalized sleep interventions can transform your healthcare workforce wellness program.
This research represents a collaboration between Somni, Columbia University, and dedicated nurse participants who are helping us build a healthier future for healthcare workers everywhere.