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. 1992 Jul;82(7):1011–1014. doi: 10.2105/ajph.82.7.1011

Rotating shift work, sleep, and accidents related to sleepiness in hospital nurses.

D R Gold 1, S Rogacz 1, N Bock 1, T D Tosteson 1, T M Baum 1, F E Speizer 1, C A Czeisler 1
PMCID: PMC1694075  PMID: 1609900

Abstract

A hospital-based survey on shift work, sleep, and accidents was carried out among 635 Massachusetts nurses. In comparison to nurses who worked only day/evening shifts, rotators had more sleep/wake cycle disruption and nodded off more at work. Rotators had twice the odds of nodding off while driving to or from work and twice the odds of a reported accident or error related to sleepiness. Application of circadian principles to the design of hospital work schedules may result in improved health and safety for nurses and patients.

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Selected References

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