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Top 10 evidence-based countermeasures for night shift workers
  1. Patrick J Wallace,
  2. Jordana J Haber
  1. Emergency Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Patrick J Wallace, Emergency Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA; patrickwallace.do{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Emergency edicine providers are responsible for ensuring the emergency department is staffed 24 hours a day. As such, providers must efficiently transition between day, swing and night shift on an almost weekly basis. There is no formal education in medical school or residency on how to approach the transition to and from night shift, remain alert and productive and maximise sleep during the day. There are a multitude of blogs and online sources discussing night shift, but few, if any, provide an evidence-based approach. This article will provide the top 10 evidence-based recommendations to increase sleep, maximise performance, decrease fatigue on shift and improve quality of life outside the workplace.

  • education
  • efficiency
  • interpersonal

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Footnotes

  • Twitter @pat_wallace1

  • Contributors PW performed the literature review, data analysis, writing of manuscript, revisions and submission. JH assisted with literature search, manuscript revisions and advisement.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were not involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting or dissemination plans of this research.

  • Patient consent for publication Not required.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.