Sleep disorders in shift nurses and their health consequences

Shift work, especially the night shift, is associated with numerous challenges that can negatively affect the quality of sleep and overall well-being of healthcare workers. This review discusses the causes of these disorders, their impact on the physical and mental health of nurses, and presents strategies for coping. It also highlights the physical factors that contribute to the occurrence of such disorders. The aim is to raise awareness of the impact of shift work on nurses and the prevalence of health disorders among them. The article reviews recent literature from PubMed, Via Medica, the Jagiellonian University Repository and “Psychiatria Polska” based on the search terms shift work, sleep disorders in nurses, and the impact of shift work on nurses’ health. While many studies have examined the impact of shift work on the health and social life of nurses, there remains a number of areas that remain unexplored. Shift work has a destructive effect on the mental and physical health of nurses and negatively influences the entire body, resulting in sleep disorders, for example. The article also present recommendations for preventing sleep disorders resulting from shift work in nurses.