Strategies for coping with shift work

Shift work is a requirement of nursing and essential to provide patients with optimum levels of continuous care. However, working shift patterns can have deleterious effects on the health of nursing staff and patient safety. Adverse effects can be physical and/or psychological. This article focuses on some of the consequences of a disrupted circadian rhythm, provides advice on coping with shift work, in particular night-time shifts, and offers some practical recommendations for practice.