Abstract
Rotating shifts (mostly 8- or 12-h) are common among nurses to ensure continuity of care. This scheduling system encompasses several adverse health and performance consequences. One of the most injurious effects of night-time shift work is the deterioration of sleep patterns due to both circadian rhythm disruption and increased sleep homeostatic pressure. Sleep problems lead to secondary effects on other aspects of wellbeing and cognitive functioning, increasing the risk of errors and workplace accidents. A wide range of interventions has been proposed to improve the sleep quality of nurses and promote an increase in attention levels. In recent years, particular attention has been paid to individual and environmental factors mediating the subjective ability to cope with sleep deprivation during the night shift. Given the predictive role of these factors on the negative impact of a night shift, an individualized intervention could represent an effective countermeasure by ensuring suitable management of shift schedules. Therefore, the aims of this mini-review are to: (a) provide an updated overview of the literature on sleep problems in night shift nurses and their adverse consequences; and (b) critically analyze the psychosocial factors that mediate the negative impact of shift work with the ultimate goal of defining an effective countermeasure based on an individualized approach.
Highlights
Nowadays, nearly a fifth of the global workforce is engaged in shift work (40% in Europe; Ferri et al, 2016; Parent-Thirion et al, 2016)
Concerning the increased homeostatic sleep drive during night work, it has been observed that planning strategic naps before or during the night shift may counteract the rise of sleep pressure and reduce perceived sleepiness (Lovato et al, 2009)
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the already known critical situation of a healthcare system overwhelmed by unexpected emergencies (e.g., Cao et al, 2020)
Summary
Nearly a fifth of the global workforce is engaged in shift work (40% in Europe; Ferri et al, 2016; Parent-Thirion et al, 2016). In the healthcare sector, working in shifts ensures the continuity of patient care around the clock. There is mounting evidence that night shift work has a significant impact on health and performance in medical personnel due to the alteration of natural homeostatic and circadian sleep processes (Boivin and Boudreau, 2014; Sagherian et al, 2017; Ganesan et al, 2019), which can seriously compromise public safety of both patients and medical staff by increasing the risk of errors and workplace accidents (Di Muzio et al, 2019; Larsen et al, 2020; Smith et al, 2020)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
