Strategies for nurses to prevent sleep-related injuries and errors.
Rehabilitation nurses work shift schedules or long hours to provide essential patient services around the clock. These demanding hours can lead to sleep difficulties, declines in performance, and increased worker errors. This article gives an overview of selected declines in cognitive performance that are associated with inadequate sleep and several factors that increase riskforfatigue-related errors. Selected strategies for nurses and managers to reduce these risks are discussed, such as better sleep practices, improved work schedule design, naps, caffeine, exposure to light, and rest breaks. Both nurses and managers share responsibility for implementing strategies to reduce risks from inadequate sleep.
Caruso
Claire C
CC
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH, USA. ccaruso@cdc.gov
Hitchcock
Edward M
EM
D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009740:Nursing Staff; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*