Whether hunting for your first nursing job, or looking for higher-paying extra hours, chances are you’ve been tempted by night shift nursing.

There are some obvious perks: more job openings, big pay differential and bonuses, and (hopefully) more calm units.

You’ve probably also considered the drawbacks: interruption of your normal sleep schedule, interference with social events, and higher patient load.

Before you decide to take that night shift nursing job, here are 5 long-term risks of night shift nursing you should know.

Sleep Disorders

Sleep problems are the most obvious major issue that can happen when you work night and rotating shifts.  When your body doesn’t have a consistent sleeping schedule, the natural circadian rhythm gets disrupted.  This can result in tons of different mental and physiological issues, including sleep problems like insomnia.

In this study, researchers compared sleep-related issues between day shift and rotating shift workers.  Not surprisingly, they found that night and rotating shift workers experienced more daytime drowsiness, trouble falling asleep at night, and morning headaches.

Hormonal Imbalances

Circadian rhythms are super important because they play a huge role in regulating a bunch of different biological processes. To name a few, this includes the sleep-wake cycle, metabolism, and even hormone secretion.

Researchers in this study found that women who work rotating night shifts may be at increased risk of earlier menopause.  They also show that working frequent night shifts may increase the risk of early ovarian failure.  

Additionally, the study describes a decrease in melatonin production in women working rotating night shifts.  They suspect this decrease is related to an interruption of normal night-time secretion by the pineal gland.

Another study compared day and rotating shift intensive care nurses with at least 3 years of experience.  Each rotating shift nurse filled out a questionnaire about job satisfaction, chronic fatigue, general health, and social problems. Researchers also took blood samples to compare cortisol, PRL, TSH, T3, and T4 levels.

When they combined the questionnaire data and the results of the blood work, they found a positive correlation with TSH level changes and working the night shift.  Their results also demonstrate a relationship between these changing TSH levels and decreased psychological health.

Cardiovascular Disease

This article compared several studies and found shift workers to have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular issues. They also say that the most important factor in predicting BMI was the length of time someone worked rotating shifts. They explain several other factors that contribute to cardiovascular risk, such as circadian rhythm disruption, social support, stress, lifestyle, and biochemical changes. 

Another study determined a link between shift work and the incidence of several major risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease.  They showed that obesity, high BMI, and increased triglyceride levels were all more common in shift workers than in day workers.

Researchers in this study compared the risk of mortality related to different health problems in women working rotating night shifts verses women working few or no night shifts. Ultimately, their results show that the women working rotating night shifts for at least six years were approximately 20% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease.

Type 2 Diabetes

This study found that rotating shift workers were more likely to have type 2 diabetes, compared to day shift workers, and that the risk increased with the number of night shifts worked per month.

This peer-reviewed study also showed that women who worked rotating night shifts were at increased risk for type 2 diabetes.  And, that risk appears to get more serious over time in that night or rotating shift role.

Their breakdown of years spent on rotating shifts and the increase in risk of developing type 2 diabetes:

• 3-9 years – 20% increased risk
• 10-19 years – 40% increased risk
• over 20 years – 58% increased risk

Cancer

Depending on who you ask (and more importantly, who funded the study), there are conflicting ideas about whether night and rotating shift work increases the risk for different types of cancer.

There may a lack of independent studies showing a clear link, but it’s also hard to discount the possibility of a connection.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) even called night work a “probable human carcinogen” back in 2007.

This study found a significant increase in breast cancer risk with number of years working rotating night shifts.

And another study found that women working rotating night shifts for at least 15 years were at a 25% increased risk of dying from lung cancer.

Managing Night Shift Nursing Challenges

Of course, working overnight and rotating shifts are not the only factors leading to these long-term health problems. Things like a healthy diet, exercise, and active lifestyle can all help offset some of the risks associated with night shift nursing.

Don’t get me wrong…

The world definitely needs overnight staff in places like hospitals and long-term care! If you’re happy in this role, I’ll be the first to applaud your hard work facing some pretty major challenges.  I am always amazed by rock star nurses and aides who can juggle the switch between days, PMs, and overnight shifts.

That being said, it’s important to any red flags your body may be sending you.

Many of the articles linked above suggest there is a “threshold” for these issues. In other words, a person can typically handle working the overnight shift—up to a point.

If you notice any sign of personal health problems after spending some time on rotating or night shift nursing, don’t just suffer in silence! Talk to your unit manager about your concerns and see if switching shifts is an option-even if it’s just temporary. And if your facility management does not take your concerns seriously, that may be a sign it’s time to look for a new facility.

Remember…you have to take care of yourself first before you can be the best nurse for your patients!

Have you tried rotating or night shift nursing?  I’d love to hear about your experience and how you managed the challenges!