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Night-Shift Nursing

By Kristin Cassell

Kevin Moran’s world just turned upside down. Nothing is the same: eating, sleeping, interaction with friends and family. Every facet of his life has morphed into something abstract, foreign and unnatural. Three months ago, Moran gave up the comfort of living within his body’s natural rhythms by choosing to work the night shift. He sleeps during the day, he eats breakfast at 10pm, and fights lethargy at 3am. The transition has been much more difficult than he anticipated, and has devastated his body. “I am always sleep deprived,” he explained. “I sleep as much as possible and still cannot function. I am a ghoul.” Each year, the National Sleep Foundation publishes a poll called Sleep in America. According to 2009 statistics, the average adult is getting only six hours and 40 minutes of sleep on a typical weekday instead of the seven hours and 24 minutes needed to function their best. Throw in a total upheaval of your circadian rhythm by switching to the night shift and … is there any advantage? Read More...

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