Differences in cortisol profiles and circadian adjustment time between nurses working night shifts and regular day shifts: A prospective longitudinal study

Apr 23, 2015International journal of nursing studies

Differences in daily stress hormone patterns and adjustment time between night-shift and day-shift nurses

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Abstract

Nurses working night shifts require at least 4 days to adjust their circadian rhythms of cortisol secretions.

  • Significant differences in salivary cortisol patterns were observed between nurses on night shifts and those on day shifts from Days 2 to 4 of work.
  • Cortisol awakening response and changes in cortisol levels between 6 and 12 hours after waking differed notably between the two groups.
  • On Day 2 of their days off, both groups showed similar cortisol profiles, indicating restoration in the night-shift group.
  • Nurses transitioning from night shifts may need more than 2 days off to fully restore their diurnal cortisol rhythm.

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