Defying circadian rhythm: the emergency nurse and the night shift.

The human body cannot change its preprogramming to meet the demands of working the night shift for a period of years. The effects are devastating to women and have been proven to shorten their life expectancy. Although the human body cannot change to meet society's demands of nighttime employment, society can change its expectations to better accommodate women who work the night shift. Nurses play a vital role in the resolution of this situation in a variety of settings. For my own health and welfare, I have already begun to follow the recommendations learned through the literature review and research of this article. My sleep time has always been guarded carefully, although I am more committed to that now. I am no longer bashful when scheduling appointments and meetings with those who function on a daytime schedule. I have modified my diet to be better balanced and have initiated a regular pattern of exercise. The statistics cited have alarmed my family, who are now more protective than ever of my night schedule and subsequent needs. I am able to advocate for the nurses that I work with, by sharing information with them. Many have worked nights for extended periods of time and are very interested in the facts from the literature. My colleagues who work in management positions are curious as to what I have found in the literature search and have obtained copies of the articles I reviewed to assist in the maintenance and scheduling within their own departments. They, too, are challenged to discover a healthier way to cover the needs of each department and maintain a healthy atmosphere for their staff.