Physiological Effects of Night Nursing on Immune Markers and Burnout Among Hospital Nurses in Kaduna State

Healthcare worker burnout and immune dysfunction resulting from night shift nursing represent critical issues with implications for both staff wellbeing and patient care quality. This study assessed the physiological effects of sustained night nursing on immune function markers and burnout levels among hospital nurses in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. Seventy nurses, comprising 40 predominantly night shift workers and 30 predominantly day shift workers, were recruited from two major hospitals. Salivary secretory immunoglobulin A was used as an accessible immune function marker. Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Sleep duration and perceived stress were documented via self-report. Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests were employed. Results showed that night shift nurses had significantly lower secretory immunoglobulin A concentrations, indicating immune suppression. Burnout scores were significantly higher among night shift nurses across all three Maslach dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal accomplishment. Poor sleep was strongly correlated with reduced immunoglobulin A and higher burnout. The study concludes that sustained night shift nursing imposes measurable immunological and psychological burdens on healthcare workers in Kaduna. Institutional night shift rotation policies, peer support systems, and occupational health monitoring are recommended. Keywords: night shift nursing, immune function, burnout, sleep, Kaduna State.