Beverly Marie Hittle

My research focuses on the intersection of occupational and individual factors contributing to worker poor sleep health and fatigue. I have engaged at the local, state, and national levels, collaborating on research related to the topic of sleep, shift work, and healthcare workers. I have been funded by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). In Summer 2019, I was the Scholar in Residence at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing in Chicago, IL, researching night shift factors contributing to patient care errors and translating educational research to policy. I have worked inter-professionally with occupational medicine, industrial hygiene, safety engineers, and epidemiologists on projects related to worker health. Currently, my research aims are focused on building sleep and fatigue-mitigation training for nurses to be delivered via mobile application. The goal of the training is to offer evidence-based content nurses can use to improve their sleep by helping them navigate the barriers to sleep that can occur while working shift work. The training will contain components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, an evidence-based first line of treatment for individuals experiencing insomnia. Future research initiatives will focus on incorporating the training into the healthcare setting, integrating it with system-based changes known as fatigue risk management. 
 

Grant: #20IPA2014028 Investigators:Hittle, Beverly 11-18-2019 -11-17-2023 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Intergovernmental Personnel Act Agreement for Beverly Hittle Role:PI $112,690 Active Type:Contract

Investigators:Hittle, Beverly 07-01-2020 -06-30-2023 UC Spring Semester (20SS) Research Launch Awards Role:PI Active

Investigators:Imelda Wong, Carolyn Smith, Beverly Hittle, Hope Tiesman 01-01-2022 -12-31-2024 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health “Better Together: Mental Wellness Support System for Long Term Care HCWs & Employers” Role:Co-I 100,000 Active Type:Contract Level:National

Investigators:Beverly Hittle, Karen Bankston, Cassie Wardlaw 12-01-2021 -11-30-2023 American Association of Occupational Health Nurse Foundation “Sleep in Healthcare: Improving the Work Environment to Support the Sleep Health of Black Nurses” Role:PI 4995 Active Type:Grant

Investigators:Gillespie, Gordon; Hittle, Beverly; Keller, Elizabeth 04-01-2022 -03-31-2023 International Association of Forensic Nurses Evaluating Stress and Wellbeing Trends in U.S. Correctional Nurses Role:PI 4050.00

Grant: #K01OH012549 Investigators:Hittle, Beverly 09-01-2023 -08-31-2026 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Using Cognitive-Behavioral Change and Mobile Technology to Improve RN Sleep and Fatigue Role:PI 0.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Peer Reviewed Publications

Hittle, Beverly M; Caruso, Claire C; Jones, Holly J; Bhattacharya, Amit; Lambert, Joshua; Gillespie, Gordon L (2020. ) Nurse Health: The Influence of Chronotype and Shift Timing.Western Journal of Nursing Research, , 193945920916802 More Information

Pryse, Yvette M; Heiskell, Jean; Goetz, Jane; Hittle, Beverly M; Glazer, Greer (2020. ) Dedicated education units: Redirecting for success.Nurse Education in Practice, , 46 ,102806 More Information

Suarez, Rassull; Agbonifo, Noma; Hittle, Beverly; Davis, Kermit; Freeman, Andrew (2017. ) Frequency and risk of occupational health and safety hazards for home healthcare workers.Journal Home Health Care Management Practice, , 29 (4 ) ,207-215 More Information

Wagner, Robin; Maddox, Krista R; Glazer, Greer; Hittle, Beverly M (2020. ) Maximizing Effectiveness of the Holistic Admission Process: Implementing the Multiple Mini Interview Model.Nurse Educator, , 45 (2 ) ,73-77 More Information

Hittle, Beverly M; Gillespie, Gordon L (2018. ) Identifying shift worker chronotype: Implications for health.Industrial Health, , 56 (6 ) ,512-523 More Information

Agbonifo, Noma; Hittle, Beverly; Suarez, Rassull; Davis, Kermit (2017. ) Occupational Exposures of Home Healthcare Workers.Home Healthcare Now, , 35 (3 ) ,150-159 More Information

Hittle, Beverly; Agbonifo, Noma; Suarez, Rassull; Davis, Kermit G; Ballard, Tangela (2016. ) Complexity of occupational exposures for home health-care workers: Nurses vs. home health aides.Journal of Nursing Management, , 24 (8 ) ,1071-1079 More Information

Hittle, B.M., Norrell, R. M., Omololu, S., & Gresham-Ulrich, Megan (2021. ) Retirement center worker sleep health assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic. .Workplace Health and Safety, , 70 (6 ) ,268-277 More Information

Keller, Elizabeth; Boch, Samantha; Hittle, Beverly M (2022. ) Unsafe and Unsettling: An Integrative Review on Correctional Nursing Work Environments and Stressors.Journal of Forensic Nursing, , More Information

Hittle, Beverly M; Daraiseh, Nancy M (2021. ) Promoting Healthcare Worker Sleep: The Time Is Now.The Journal of Nursing Administration, , 51 (11 ) ,543-545 More Information

Hittle, B.M., & Wong, I.S. (2022. ) Blue light and sleep: What nurses need to know .American Nurse Journal, , (March ) ,

Hittle, Beverly M; Hils, Janie; Fendinger, Sherry L; Wong, Imelda S (2023. ) A scoping review of sleep education and training for nurses.International journal of nursing studies, , 142 ,104468 More Information

Keller, Elizabeth; Hittle, Beverly M; Smith, Carolyn R (2023. ) Tiredness Takes Its Toll: An Integrative Review on Sleep and Occupational Outcomes for Long-Term Care Workers.Journal of gerontological nursing, , 49 (1 ) ,27-33 More Information

Varner, Kendra; Hittle, Beverly M; Martsolf, Donna; Plano Clark, Vicki L; Gillespie, Gordon L; Reutman, Susan (2022. ) Qualitative Findings for Supporting Newly Graduated Nurse and Teacher Sleep During Their First Year.Workplace health & safety, , 70 (12 ) ,556-565 More Information

Caruso, Claire C; Arbour, Megan W; Berger, Ann M; Hittle, Beverly M; Tucker, Sharon; Patrician, Patricia A; Trinkoff, Alison M; Rogers, Ann E; Barger, Laura K; Edmonson, J Cole; Landrigan, Christopher P; Redeker, Nancy S; Chasens, Eileen R (2022. ) Research priorities to reduce risks from work hours and fatigue in the healthcare and social assistance sector.American journal of industrial medicine, , 65 (11 ) ,867-877 More Information

Hittle, Beverly M; Gillespie, Gordon L; Jones, Holly J; Bhattacharya, Amit (2021. ) Time lost: Factors influencing advanced practice provider's prioritization of sleep.Work (Reading, Mass.), , 68 (3 ) ,653-665 More Information

Keller, Elizabeth; Boch, Samantha; Davis, Kermit G; Gillespie, Gordon L; Hittle, Beverly M (2024. ) "[It] Does Harden a Person Working in Such a Stressful Environment": U.S. Correctional Nurses Share Spillover Effects of Their Work.Journal of forensic nursing, , More Information

Keller, Elizabeth G; Hittle, Beverly M; Boch, Samantha J; Davis, Kermit G; Gillespie, Gordon L (2024. ) Unlocking Prevalence Data: Describing the Job Stress and Well-being of U.S. Correctional Nurses.Workplace health & safety, , 21650799231207977 More Information

Keller, Elizabeth G; Hittle, Beverly M; Boch, Samantha; Davis, Kermit; Gillespie, Gordon L (2023. ) Modeling wellbeing for U.S. correctional nurses: A cross sectional survey.International journal of nursing studies, , 147 ,104589 More Information

Hittle, Beverly M; Wardlaw, Cassie; Lambert, Joshua; Bankston, Karen (2023. ) A Cross-Sectional Study of the Social Work Environment and Black Registered Nurses' Sleep.Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, , More Information

Hittle, Beverly M; Guerin, Rebecca; Wong, Imelda S (2025. ) Reach of an Occupational Health and Safety Program to Improve Sleep and Fatigue Among Nurses.Western journal of nursing research, , 1939459251340273 More Information

Edgerly, Ashley; Gillespie, Gordon Lee; Bhattacharya, Amit; Hittle, Beverly M (2025. ) Summarizing Recommendations for the Prevention of Occupational Heat-Related Illness in Outdoor Workers: A Scoping Review.Workplace health & safety, , 73 (2 ) ,63-84 More Information

Xavier, Teenu; Hittle, Beverly M; Rojas-Guyler, Liliana; Lee, Rebecca C (2024. ) Resilience in Intensive Care Unit Nurses: An Integrative Review.Critical care nurse, , 44 (6 ) ,52-63 More Information

Edgerly, Ashley; Gillespie, Gordon Lee; Bhattacharya, Amit; Hittle, Beverly M (2024. ) Ohio Farmworkers and Heat-Related Illness Prevention: A Focused Ethnography.Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, , 66 (12 ) ,1015-1021 More Information

Hittle, Beverly M; Keller, Elizabeth G; Lee, Rebecca C; Daraiseh, Nancy M (2024. ) Pediatric nurses' fatigue descriptions in occupational injury reports: A descriptive qualitative study1.Work (Reading, Mass.), , 79 (3 ) ,1307-1321 More Information

Hittle, BM, Wardlaw, C, Trosclair, E, Bankston, K (2024. ) Sleep inequities in nursing: A descriptive qualitative study on causes of poor sleep among Black nurses in the United States.Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, , 15 (2 ) ,36 More Information

Other Publications

Hittle, Beverly M., Wong, Imelda, S., & Caruso, Claire C. (2020. ) Managing Fatigue During Times of Crisis: Guidance for Nurses, Managers, and Other Healthcare Workers .NIOSH Science Blog,

Wong, I.S., & Hittle, B.M. (2022. ) Here Comes the Sun! Tips to Adapt to Daylight Saving Time .NIOSH Science Blog,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2020. ) What Workers and Employers Can Do to Manage Workplace Fatigue during COVID-19 .CDC, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Community, Work and School Fact Sheet,

Invited Presentations

Beverly Hittle (03-2021. ) Fatigue Among Healthcare Workers: Do Solutions Exist? .National Council for State Boards of Nursing’s Virtual Scientific Symposium, Level:National

Beverly Hittle (02-2021. ) Sleep Health: What Is It and Can It be Translated for Public Use? .National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Center for Work and Fatigue Research Quarterly Virtual Meeting, Level:National

Hittle, B.M., & Wong, I.S (11-2022. ) Work-related fatigue: What is it and how do we mitigate the risks. American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Workplace Wellness and Safety Webinar Series., Virtual. Level:National