Impact of Shift Work on the Health and Safety of Nurses and Patients

Abstract

Shift work generally is defined as work hours that are scheduled outside of daylight. Shift work disrupts the synchronous relationship between the body's internal clock and the environment. The disruption often results in problems such as sleep disturbances, increased accidents and injuries, and social isolation. Physiologic effects include changes in rhythms of core temperature, various hormonal levels, immune functioning, and activity-rest cycles. Adaptation to shift work is promoted by reentrainment of the internally regulated functions and adjustment of activity-rest and social patterns. Nurses working various shifts can improve shift-work tolerance when they understand and adopt counter measures to reduce the feelings of jet lag. By learning how to adjust internal rhythms to the same phase as working time, nurses can improve daytime sleep and family functioning and reduce sleepiness and work-related errors. Modifying external factors such as the direction of the rotation pattern, the number of consecutive night shifts worked, and food and beverage intake patterns can help to reduce the negative health effects of shift work. Nurses can adopt counter measures such as power napping, eliminating overtime on 12-hour shifts, and completing challenging tasks before 4 am to reduce patient care errors.

Effects of hypoxia on epididymal sperm parameters and protective role of ibuprofen and melatonin

“…Acute simulated hypobaric hypoxia at extremely high altitudes results in damage to all testicular cells, including spermatogenic and somatic elements (Sertoli and Leydig cells) (Shevantaeva and Kosyuga, 2006). Other authors associate fertility problems to labour schedules (Xu et al, 1994;Bisanti et al, 1996;Costa, 1996;Kogi, 1996;Monk et al, 1996;Nurmimen, 1998;Scott, 2000;Zhu et al, 2003;Harma, 2006;Berger and Hobbs, 2006). Working schedules represent a biological, mental and social stress that could alter health, well-being, and performance of the workers in this environment.…”

Relationships between burnout and role ambiguity, role conflict and employee absenteeism among health workers

“…This condition is especially important to consider in health workers, a group particularly vulnerable to suffering disorders derived from these conditions (Berger & Hobbs, 2006;Olson, Drage & Auger, 2009;Rauchenzauner, et al, 2009).…”

Dietary, Anthropometric, Biochemical and Psychiatric Indices in Shift Work Nurses

“…Several mechanisms explain weight gain in shift workers, such as higher calorie intake, changes in dietary habits such as eating fewer meals, more snacks and in the circadian distribution of food Dietary, Anthropometric, Biochemical and Psychiatric Indices in Shift Work Nurses 1240 intake and lower physical exercise [5]. Modifying external factors such as food and beverage intake patterns can help to reduce the destructive health effects of shift work [1]. Compared to the number of studies that evaluated intra-individual differences in nutrient intake by shift, there have been few studies that have examined the difference in micronutrient intakes between shift workers and day time workers [5].…”

“…Shift work generally is defined as "work hours that are scheduled outside of daylight" [1]. Nurses represent an important part of the hospital workforce and serve as role models when caring for patients [2].…”