Working from Dusk to Dawn: A Joy or Nightmare

Nurses are needed to work night shift because patients in acute care, subacute, and long-term care facilities require round-the-clock care. A systematic review on the experiences and perceptions of nurses working the night shift in varied settings found the night shift work environment is different and night shift nurses juggle their sleep and deal with ongoing sleep deprivation. Based on the systematic review and the evidence that forewarns of the physical and psychological burden of night shift work, recommendations are made for employers and nurses to navigate the challenges posed to those working against their circadian rhythm.