Impairment of perceptual and motor abilities at the end of a night shift is greater in nurses working fast rotating shifts

Greater impairment of perceptual and motor ability was observed among nurses working two consecutive night shifts compared to those working four consecutive shifts.

• Cognitive performance was assessed at the time of maximum fatigue (3-4am) during the last night shift.
• No significant differences in demographic data, executive function, or attention were found among the three groups.
• The findings suggest that a fast rotation of night shifts may be linked to an increased risk of medical errors.

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