Abstract: Objective To understand the current situation of sleep deprivation，emotional exhaustion and turnover intention of night shift nurses，and to explore the intermediary relationship of sleep deprivation between emotional exhaustion and turnover intention. Methods In March 2022，a total of 394 clinical night nurses from 5 grade-A tertiary hospitals were selected in this cross-sectional survey. They were investigated with the general data questionnaire，intent to leave scale，emotional labor scale，and athens insomnia scale. SPSS 26.0 was used for general data，correlation and regression analysis，and AMOS 24.0 was used for intermediary effect analysis. Results The total score of sleep deprivation in 394 nurses was （7.24±6.14）points，the total emotional fatigue score was （46.35±9.55）points，surface performance score was （22.94±5.83）points，deep performance score was （12.75±3.64）points，natural performance score was （10.66±3.40）points，and total turnover intention score was （12.73±3.21）points. There was a positive correlation between sleep deprivation and emotional exhaustion，turnover intention（r=0.714，0.747，both P<0.01）. Sleep deprivation played an intermediary role between emotional exhaustion and turnover intention，which accounting for 41.0%. Conclusions The incidence of sleep deprivation between clinical night shift nurses is higher. Emotional exhaustion can induce turnover intention，also can accelerate turnover intention through the inducing factor of sleep deprivation. Meanwhile sleep deprivation plays a partial mediating role between emotional exhaustion and turnover intention. The management department should rationalize and upgrade the management structure，pay attention to the sleep status and emotional pressure of night shift nurses，and reduce their turnover intention.

Key words: Night shift work, Sleep deprivation, Emotional fatigue, Turnover intention, Intermediary analysis