From Occupational Hazard to Public Health Concern: A Bibliometric and Knowledge-Mapping Analysis of Sleep Disorders Among Nurses Worldwide (1985-2025).

PURPOSE: Sleep disorders among nurses are highly prevalent, affecting well-being, clinical performance, and patient safety. A comprehensive mapping of global research trends is lacking. This study evaluates the evolution and focal points of research on sleep disorders among nurses over the last 4 decades, utilizing bibliometric analyses.

METHODS

We performed a bibliometric analysis of 1553 English-language publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) (1985-2025). Publication trends, country and institutional contributions, collaboration networks, cocitation, and keyword co-occurrence were analyzed.

RESULTS

Research output increased steadily, with a sharp surge after 2020, reflecting the impact of COVID-19. The United States and China were leading contributors, but international collaboration was sparse. Core themes included insomnia and sleep quality, shift work and circadian misalignment, and psychological sequelae such as stress, depression, and burnout. Recent hotspots emphasized patient safety, measurement validation, and intervention trials.

CONCLUSION

The field is expanding rapidly yet remains fragmented. Harmonized measurement, system-level interventions, and stronger international collaboration are required to translate research into sustainable improvements in nurse health and patient safety.