The U.S. American National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
has released a free online course that aims to train nurses and their managers
on the risks of shift work and long work hours, and strategies to reduce these
risks. The training course was developed in collaboration with healthcare
stakeholders, including nursing organizations and academic groups and will
provide continuing education for registered nurses who complete the course. A
certificate of completion is available for persons who are not registered
nurses.

The NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours is designed to
increase knowledge and promote better personal behaviors and workplace systems
to reduce the risks linked to working shift work, long work hours, and exposure
to related issues from insufficient sleep. Content is derived from scientific
literature on shift work, long work hours, sleep, and circadian rhythms.

The training takes into account sleep patterns and processes involved with
sleep and fatigue, and provides solutions for both staff nurses and nurse
managers to reduce these risks. Particularly, the training will inform nurses
and their managers about the following:

• How shift work and long hours are linked to a wide range of health and safety risks by reducing time for sleep, disturbing circadian rhythms and disrupting family and non-work responsibilities


• What vital functions occur during sleep and the relevant physiologic processes that determine the timing of sleep and the development of fatigue


• Good sleep practices and other coping strategies nurses working shift work and long work hours can adopt in their personal lives to reduce risks


• Work organization strategies for employers to reduce risks associated with shift work and long work hours

More information

AplusA-online.de - Source: Centre for Occupational Health and Safety