title: Shift work.
abstract: Emergency medicine, by its nature, requires shift work. Shift work has a long history and has generated many studies and regulations. It affects physiologic rhythms, sleep patterns, health, social interaction, family life, and job performance. People of certain personality types or those having certain circadian patterns may be more suited to shift work than others. The shift worker's well-being may increase if he understands how his schedule affects him; if consumer services are made available to him at all times; and if his work is scheduled carefully.
mesh_terms: D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D010559:Personnel Management; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance