Healthcare professionals often work rotating shifts. Why is this problematic? What can be done to deal with potential problems?

Rotating shifts commonly lead to irregular sleep patterns, which can result in sleep deprivation. This can cause fatigue, decreased concentration, and impaired decision-making, which are particularly problematic for healthcare professionals who need to remain alert and focused on their job. Besides, constant changes in schedule can also disrupt their social and family life.

There are several strategies to mitigate these issues. The first approach can be educating healthcare professionals about the importance of sleep and providing guidelines for better sleep hygiene, like maintaining a regular sleep schedule even on days off, and creating a sleep-friendly environment. Another approach can be improving the design of shift schedules. For instance, forward (morning-afternoon-night) rotation is generally more tolerable than backward (night-afternoon-morning) rotation. Also, shifts should be limited to a maximum of 12 hours and consecutive night shifts should be avoided. Lastly, service providers can offer counseling and support services to help staff deal with stress and family issues arising from shift work.

Organizations should also put into place supportive policies for shift workers. This could include providing facilities for napping during breaks, offering flexible scheduling, and ensuring workers get adequate time off between shifts. It could also involve health promotion campaigns such as fitness or nutrition programs to help maintain overall health, or even psychological support to help manage stress.