Open AccessNegative Impacts of Shiftwork and Long Work Hours
Author(s) -
Caruso Claire C.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
rehabilitation nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.355
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2048-7940
pISSN - 0278-4807
DOI - 10.1002/rnj.107
Subject(s) - shift work , work (physics) , harm , sleep (system call) , work hours , health care , medicine , nursing , psychology , gerontology , psychiatry , social psychology , computer science , engineering , political science , mechanical engineering , law , operating system
Purpose Healthcare organizations often have to provide patient care around the clock. Shift work (any shift outside of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m) and long work hours increase the risk for short sleep duration and sleep disturbances. Thirty‐two percent of healthcare workers report they do not get enough sleep. The purpose of the article is to give an overview of the wide range of risks to nurses, patients, and employers that are linked to shift work, long work hours, and poor sleep from other sources. Findings Shift work and long work hours increase the risk for reduced performance on the job, obesity, injuries, and a wide range of chronic diseases. In addition, fatigue‐related errors could harm patients. Fatigued nurses also endanger others during their commute to and from work. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance The key strategy to reduce these risks is making sleep a priority in the employer's systems for organizing work and in the nurse's personal life.