The Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises on Fatigue Severity and Sleep Quality in Emergency Department Nurses

The Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises on Fatigue Severity and Sleep Quality in Emergency Department Nurses: A Self-Controlled Quasi-Experimental Study

Emergency departments are critical units where patients with life-threatening conditions and acute illnesses receive rapid interventions. Nurses working in these units aim to provide the best possible healthcare by intervening with patients at high risk of life-threatening situations. However, long working hours, inadequate working conditions, high stress, and critical patient care often lead to physiological issues among nurses. Fatigue and insomnia, which are commonly linked to burnout, are among the most frequent physiological problems.

Insomnia is a condition characterized by poor and irregular sleep patterns occurring within a 24-hour period due to disruption of the circadian rhythm. Chronic insomnia, if persistent, triggers fatigue. Fatigue is a subjective condition that, when prolonged, negatively affects nurses' daily activities and reduces job performance. Moreover, increasing fatigue has significant adverse effects on alertness, attention, judgment, and mood. These effects can lead to accidents, errors in practice, and injuries.

Progressive relaxation exercises reduce blood levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine, oxygen consumption, blood pressure, metabolic rate, heart rate, muscle tension, lactic acid levels, pain and fatigue. On the other hand, concentration increases endorphin release, reduces insomnia and provides mental well-being. When the literature was examined, progressive relaxation exercise practices were performed on patients with rheumatoid arthritis and it was determined that there were positive effects on insomnia and fatigue levels in patients at the end of a six-week period. In another study evaluating the effectiveness of progressive relaxation exercise in dialysis patients, it was found that the fatigue level of the patients decreased. Again, when the literature was examined, two studies evaluating the effectiveness of progressive relaxation exercise on intensive care nurses were found in our country. In these studies conducted with intensive care nurses, it was reported that progressive relaxation exercises had a positive effect on fatigue.

In line with our research, no study was found to examine the effect of progressive relaxation exercises applied to nurses working in the emergency department on fatigue severity and sleep quality.

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Inclusion Criteria:

• Working in the emergency service unit,
• No psychiatric disorder,
• Can do progressive relaxation exercises,
• Apply progressive relaxation exercises for one month,
• No disease that prevents progressive relaxation exercise,

Exclusion Criteria:

• Nurses who do not meet the inclusion criteria will be excluded from the study.