The Effects of Rotating Nursing Shifts

Hospitals are open 24 hours a day, and patient census is hard to predict. Working night shifts, day shifts, weekdays and weekends are all possible as a nurse, and working varied days and times can take a toll. According to the National Sleep Foundation, a shift worker is not just someone who works nights, but anyone who works outside a steady 9 to 5 schedule.

Sleep Disorders

• Rotating shifts can affect a person's circadian rhythm. According to WebMD, "Circadian rhythms are important in determining human sleeping patterns." Sleep disorders such as insomnia can develop due to irregular sleep patterns.

Stomach Disorders

• Gastrointestinal symptoms like upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, ulcers, gastroenteritis and other stomach-related disorders have been linked to shift work. Meal times can be irregular when a person is working rotating shifts, and fast food or vending machines items may be the only items available at break time.

Relationship Disorders

• Rotating shifts can make family life difficult. Meeting families for holiday gatherings or special events is often put off due to the need for sleep. Nurses may feel isolated at times, since their schedules keep them from seeing their friends and families.

Weight Disorders

• Poor eating habits and poor sleeping routines make it difficult to have the energy for exercise; this lack of exercise contributes to obesity. According to WebMD, "The hormone leptin plays a key role in regulating our appetite; it helps make us feel full." Working rotating and irregular shifts can lower this hormone and cause a person to eat more.