NIGHT SHIFT SAFETY Justin Christensen PHY 400 It is very important to understand sleep to then understand the effects of shift work and to understand how to increase safety. There is very little knowledge about why we need a normal sleep cycle that include sleeping at night, but even less is known about the sleep cycles of those who try to sleep during the day and go to work during the long night. All the studies are not clear about what is the correct amount of sleep is actually required for a healthy lifestyle. As you look there the research there are result that show long natural sleepers and short sleepers have increase in mortality stats. What research has told us is that sleep is relegated by an internal time clock or what the experts call the circadian cycle. First circadian comes from two Latin words circa: about and dia: day. All the various bodily function cycle that occur during the day are related to our circadian cycle. Since the time of Aristotle and Hippocrates these cycles have been recognized. Our sleep/wake cycles is one of the best known bodily functions to show circadian rhythms, and even our vital signs are directly linked to this cycle. As technology advances we gain more precise measurements, allowing researchers to recognize more circadian cycles which in turn teach us how our bodies work and function. On an interesting note it has been found that bone length is linked to and show a circadian cycle. In a majority of circadian rhythms there seems to be major components which include an endogenous component (which is regulated by an internal clock located in the hypothalamus) and an exogenous component. This exogenous component is made up of different clues in time in the world around us.... ... middle of paper ... ...ydrates, and lean meats) during their regular meals and breaks to reduce problems with their digestive tracts and also to keep a better level of alertness while working. Employers may want to consider, for example, so install refrigerated snack machines which stock fruit and low-fat cheese and yogurt replacing "standard" snack machines that are stocked with the standard sugary foods. Also avoiding caffeinated drink helps with digestive issues. There are many other was to increase safety and help those that work the night shift but just small step with any way will increase safety at every turn. The key issue to have a routine and eat properly. Bibliography Costa, G. (1997). The Problem:Shiftwork. The Problem:Shiftwork, 89-98. Maynard, W., & Brogmus, G. (2006). Safer shift work through more effective scheduling. Occupational health and safety, 16.
A considerable amount of literature has been published on the impact of working hours (8 vs. 12 hour shifts) on fatigue among the nurses. These studies revealed that twelve-hour shifts increase the risk of fatigue, reduce the level of alertness and performance, and therefore reduce the safety aspect compared to eight-hour shifts (Mitchell and Williamson, 1997; Dorrian et al., 2006; Dembe et al., 2009; Tasto et al., 1978). Mills et al. (1982) found that the risk of fatigues and performance errors are associated with the 12-hour shifts. Beside this, Jostone et al. (2002) revealed that nurses who are working for long hours are providing hasty performance with increased possibility of errors.
Harrington, J. M. (2001). Health Effects of Shift Work and Extended Hours of Work. OEM Education. Retrieved on December 3, 2013, from http://oem.bmj.com/content/58/1/68.full. doi: 10.1136.oem.58.1.68
Likewise, humans function on circadian rhythms like many animals. “Our bodies are verified to have a regulatory mechanism to adjust the circadian rhythm” (Guo 2013). They perform daily activities like work during the day and rest/sleep at night. But there are some people who perform oppositely. They tend to sleep/rest during the day and work at night. These people tend to have some sleeping disorders due to their circadian rhythms being shifted. Until they readjust circadian rhythms they will continue to have sleep problems and impaired performance while being awake.
Researching sleep is difficult for a variety of reasons. The first reason for difficulty is the nature of experimentation. To truly isolate the sleep patterns, all time-giving cues, or zietgebers, have to be eliminated. Light, electromagnetic waves, the schedules of researchers, and even the growth of a facial hair on outsiders may lead the subject to guess the time of day. The body can detect even the faintest cues of time, so it is incredibly important that the subject be completely shut off from time giving cues. If the subject of the research knows the time of day, he or she may adjust accordingly, skewing results and making it all but impossible to collect the data needed.
According to “the Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance,” to ensure reliability of service to customers a Power Dispatcher must perform shift work. However, shift work is one of the most negative aspects of a Power Dispatcher’s career. Medical scholar Fritz points out that the work performed during the night shift was blamed for two major nuclear incidents, the Three Mile Island nuclear accident that occurred in March of 1979 in the state of Pennsylvania and Chernobyl (Russia) accident which occurred in 1986 (59). Therefore one of the personal responsibilities of a Power Dispatcher is to balance work schedule with off duty priorities to avoid sleep deprivation. However, for a Power Dispatcher with a family, juggling the work schedule and private life is a difficult task. Fritz confirms that shift workers are more likely than traditional workers to have family issues (72). Therefore, being a bachelor, I am better prepared for shift work. For example, I am not affected by the noise of children or nagging of the better half.
"Sleep Drive and Your Body Clock." Body Clock & Sleep 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2014. .
Staffing plans have been influenced by several complex factors of safety which must be maintained when developing a psychiatric-mental healthcare plan for the staff. This inquiry has identified many clinical concerns that are impacted by various staffing issues which are more negative related to the inpatient Behavioral Health Unit as a result of safety and quality issues. However, to determine whether working a twelve- hour shift as opposed to an eight-hour shift impacts patient safety in the Behavioral Health Unit. Further research is needed in this area. It is highly recommended that this transition plan considers change theory and recognize the difficulty associated with change (primarily related to scheduling) and began with
Notably, having higher proportions of nurses working shorter shifts—8–9 hours or 10–11 hours—resulted in decreases in patient dissatisfaction” (Stimpfel et al.). This is essentially saying that the longer the shift length, the more negative outcomes result. This study proves that eight to nine-hour shifts are more effective, and should, in turn, be worked more than longer shifts. This is a problem because hospitals are likely to continue to schedule nurses for twelve hours shifts out of
According to Britannica, a person’s sleep and wake cycle, called the circadian rhythm, is regulated by melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone that causes us to become tired. It causes changes that promote sleep, such as the body temperature and breathing rate decreasing. The production of melatonin is influenced by light. The retina detects light, and cells in the retina send signals to the brain about the light stature. Then depending on how much light there is the melatonin either ramps up production or is limited. More light equals limited melatonin, causing us to be awake, and low light equals more melatonin, so we fall asleep. That is how the light chan...
Important public policy issues have arisen in our modern 24-hour society, where it is crucial to weigh the value of sleep versus wakefulness. Scientific knowledge about sleep is currently insufficient to resolve the political and academic debates raging about how much and when people should sleep. These issues affect almost everybody, from the shift worker to the international traveler, from the physician to the policy maker, from the anthropologist to the student preparing for an exam.
Various factories, hospitals, police units, and firefighting squads are required to have people on call during all hours of the night. While this requirement does benefit the greater population, it requires a set of employees to stay up all night: working. Although these shifts are necessary for companies to produce products, or to be alert in case of emergencies, there are many downfalls to working this extra time. The care for and safety of employees should be top priority over the amount of product, profit, and similar factors. Understanding the risks that employees face when working night shifts is one issue that should be made more apparent to the supervisors and corporate workers of companies, enabling them to take necessary precautions
Getting enough sleep can increase our chances of being more mentally/physically healthy and our safety throughout the day. How we feel throughout the day is depending on our sleep. Lack of sleep can lead to impaired judgment and actions, which can be a safety hazard towards yourself and your surroundings. When we sleep, our bodies are working to revitalize the brain to form new pathways to help with memory functions and our physical health such as healing repair heart and blood vessels and hormone balance. It is very important for everyone to maintain a good night’s rest to maintain daytime performance and lower stress. Sleep will reduce the levels of stress, help others gain control on their actions and avoid depression. Contributing to these sleep benefits will change your body and mind
Sleep is the natural state of fractional consciousness where a person can be aroused by stimulation (NSF). The brain releases naturally made melatonin that helps the person fall asleep. What is important about sleep is the circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm, also known as the “biological Clock”, gives people a 24 hour sleep/wake pattern into the day. Surprisingly enough, when day light savings...
Sleeping is an important part in our life. Lacking of enough time of sleeping may lead to anxiety, depression and other diseases. Many people
Stampi, Claudio, ed. {Why We Nap: Evolution, Chronobiology, and Functions of Polyphasic and Ultrashort Sleep}. By Jurgan Arnoff. Boston: Birkhauser, 1992.