Night shift nursing as a contract nurse can put you at serious risk of sleep deprivation and its attendant problems. A lack of sleep can contribute to irritability and errors on the job that place patients at risk, and it can lead to drowsy driving after work, which is nearly as dangerous a phenomenon as drunk driving. Addressing this issue is an important key to making night shift nursing work a more positive experience for everyone involved. Get an overview of the night shift nursing hazards associated with sleep deprivation and some recommended guidelines for preventing it below. And the risks don’t stop once you leave the patient bedside. Chu notes that night shift nursing and associated sleep deprivation can continue to put RNs at risk even after the work is done. Lack of sleep also poses potential harm to own health and safety regarding daily activities such as driving specifically determining how much sleep you need per week, comparing this to how much sleep you actually get, and noting this as your “sleep debt.” He also proposes some strategies specific to shift work: Using days off to catch up on your sleep debt Creating a day-sleep environment that is quiet, completely dark, comfortable, and free of distractions Getting two-three- to four-hour blocks of sleep during the day when you work the night shift. Catnapping in short 20–30 minute periods with eyes closed, situated in a comfortable and resting position when possible during breaks in your shift It also exhausts the body and brain, which affects functioning and productivity. Finally, it is a recipe for making disastrous mistakes, as it causes you to forget things and not pay attention to what is going on around you
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Sunday, March 23, 2025