We tell our patients that sleep is medicine. So why do so many of us treat our own sleep as optional?

The evidence is sobering. As many as 61 per cent of nurses report poor sleep quality – almost double the rate in other health professions. The consequences aren’t abstract, either. Tragic, well-publicised cases of nurses falling asleep on shift, with devastating outcomes for the patients in their care, are a stark reminder that fatigue is a patient safety issue, not just a personal one.

The hidden risks of running on empty

Fatigue affects the body much like intoxication does – after enough hours awake, reaction times and judgement can be impaired to a degree comparable with drinking. Few of us would care for a patient after a few drinks, yet chronic under-sleeping can leave us functioning at a similar level, night after night.

The risks extend beyond decision-making, too. Poor sleep is linked to a higher risk of workplace injury, and sleeping less than six hours a night makes catching a common cold around four times more likely. With winter illness and workforce exhaustion regularly in the headlines, protecting sleep may be one of the simplest ways to protect our workforce.

Why nursing makes good sleep so hard

Rotating rosters, night shifts, quick turnarounds between shifts, caring responsibilities at home, study, and carrying the worries of a shift home with us – it’s the perfect storm. Generic advice aimed at the general population, like “keep a consistent bedtime,” often simply doesn’t apply to shift workers.

Small, shift-friendly changes that help

Recently published sleep hygiene guidelines for shift workers offer practical starting points:

• Build a short wind-down routine before bed
• Keep your sleep space cool, dark and quiet
• Watch caffeine and heavy meals close to bedtime
• Plan your transition into days off, rather than letting sleep debt build up
• Consider light exposure when negotiating shift timing
• Treat sleep time between shifts as non-negotiable

A little understanding of sleep science – what drives it, and what disrupts it – also helps nurses and midwives make smarter rostering requests and everyday recovery decisions.

Sleep isn’t a luxury or a sign of weakness. For a workforce that gives so much, protecting it is good self-care – and good patient care too.

If sleep, fatigue or wellbeing is a concern for you, Nurse & Midwife Support is available 24/7 on 1800 667 877 and Nurse and Midwife Health Program on 1800 001 060

New: a podcast on sleep and fatigue

If you’d like to go deeper, Nurse & Midwife Support’s podcast has recently released Episode 56, Improving Your Sleep Health, featuring clinical psychologist and sleep specialist Dr Sumedha Verma. It’s a candid, practical conversation about shift work and what genuinely helps. Dr Verma is also running a short, five-minute Sleep & Fatigue Support Survey to help shape future support for the profession – your input is welcome.