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NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours
(Revised October 2023)
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2015-115
Training and Education
CDC Course Numbers: WB4747 and WB4748
Course Description
The purpose of this online training program is to educate nurses and their managers about the health and safety risks associated with shift work, long work hours, and related workplace fatigue issues and relay strategies in the workplace and in the nurse’s personal life to reduce these risks. Part 1 (CDC Course No. WB4747) is designed to increase knowledge about the wide range of risks linked to these work schedules and related fatigue issues and promote understanding about why these risks occur. This knowledge provides background information for Part 2 of the training program. Part 2 (CDC Course No. WB4748) is designed to increase knowledge about personal behaviors and workplace systems to reduce these risks. Content for this training program is derived from scientific literature on shift work, long work hours, sleep, and circadian rhythms.
Suggested Citation:
NIOSH [2015]. NIOSH training for nurses on shift work and long work hours. By Caruso CC, Geiger-Brown J, Takahashi M, Trinkoff A, Nakata A. Cincinnati, OH: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2015-115 (Revised 4/2024). https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2015115revised102023
Technical Requirements
Computer hardware (desktop, laptop, tablet, mobile devices); internet connection.
Instructions for obtaining continuing education (CE)
In order to receive continuing education (CE) for WB4747 NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours Part 1 and WB4748 NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours Part 2, please visit CDC TRAIN and search for the course in the Course Catalog using [WB4747] or [WB4748]. Follow the steps below by [October 16, 2025].
Learning Objectives
In this training, you will receive scientific information about the risks of shift work and long work hours and strategies to reduce these risks.
The training contains 12 modules that are divided into two parts. Other Resources at the end gives a list of more information about work schedules and sleep.
Part 1 includes Modules 1 to 4. Persons completing Part 1 can obtain continuing education (CE) for nurses and other health professionals. Part 1 has four overarching learning objectives.
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- Explain why shift work and long work hours can lead to health and safety risks.
- Identify a broad range of health and safety risks that are linked to shift work and long work hours.
- Identify individual factors that can lead to differences in a nurse’s ability to adjust to shift work and long work hours.
- List two ways this educational activity will impact my team.
Part 2 includes Modules 5 to 12 that cover strategies to reduce risks. Persons completing Part 2 can obtain continuing education (CE) for nurses and other health professionals. Part 2 has three overarching learning objectives.
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- Identify workplace strategies managers can implement to reduce risks from shift work and long work hours.
- Identify strategies nurses can implement in their personal lives to reduce risks from shift work and long work hours.
- Identify 2 strategies for the healthcare team to address the demands of long work hours.
Target Audience
Registered Nurses, administrators and safety professionals
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Accreditation Statements
WB4747 NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours, Part 1
CNE: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is accredited as a provider of Continuing Nursing Education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
This activity provides 1.25 contact hours.
CEU: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEU’s for this program.
For Certified Public Health Professionals (CPH): The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a pre-approved provider of Certified in Public Health (CPH) recertification credits and is authorized to offer 2 CPH recertification credits for this program.
WB4748 NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours, Part 2
CNE: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is accredited as a provider of Continuing Nursing Education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
This activity provides 1.25 contact hours.
CEU: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEU’s for this program.
For Certified Public Health Professionals (CPH): The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a pre-approved provider of Certified in Public Health (CPH) recertification credits and is authorized to offer 1 CPH recertification credits for this program.
Disclosure Statement
In compliance with continuing education requirements, all presenters must disclose any financial or other associations with the manufacturers of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services, or commercial supporters as well as any use of unlabeled product(s) or product(s) under investigational use.
CDC, our planners, content experts, and their spouses/partners wish to disclose they have no financial interests or other relationships with the manufacturers of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services, or commercial supporters. Planners have reviewed content to ensure there is no bias.
Content will not include any discussion of the unlabeled use of a product or a product under investigational use.
CDC did not accept commercial support for this continuing education activity.
Fees:
No fees are charged for CDC’s CE activities.
Contact Information
For assistance with registration, completing the course assessment and posttest, transcripts, and printing continuing education certificates, please contact at https://tceols.cdc.gov/Home/Contact
Please email NIOSH Sleep (nioshsleep@cdc.gov) with any questions regarding this course.
Faculty and Other Contributors
| Revision Date | Revisions | Citation of Revision |
| May, 2015 (Original) | NIOSH, Caruso CC, Geiger-Brown J, Takahashi M, Trinkoff A, Nakata A. [2015]. NIOSH training for nurses on shift work and long work hours. (DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2015-115). Cincinnati, OH: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. [www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2015-115/] | |
| October, 2019 | New continuing education (CE) certificates through CDC Training and Continuing Education Online for this training launched on 10/15/2019 to replace the CE programs which expired on 10/15/2019. The edits required to make the training eligible for continuing education certificates for another 2 years included these the landing page, Learning Objectives page, Accreditation Statement page, Part 1 course completion page, and Part 2 course completion page.
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NIOSH [2015]. NIOSH training for nurses on shift work and long work hours. By Caruso CC, Geiger-Brown J, Takahashi M, Trinkoff A, Nakata A. Cincinnati, OH: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2015-115 (Revised 10/2019). https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2015115revised102019 |
| April, 2020 | A responsive design version of the course implemented – eliminating the need of separate instances for mobile users and for desktop/personal computer browsers. | NIOSH [2015]. NIOSH training for nurses on shift work and long work hours. By Caruso CC, Geiger-Brown J, Takahashi M, Trinkoff A, Nakata A. Cincinnati, OH: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2015-115 (Revised 04/2020). https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2015115revised042020 |
| October, 2021 | New continuing education (CE) certificates through CDC Training and Continuing Education Online for this training launched on 10/15/2021 to replace the CE programs which expired on 10/15/2021. Edits are on the landing page and Accreditation Statement page.
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NIOSH [2015]. NIOSH training for nurses on shift work and long work hours. By Caruso CC, Geiger-Brown J, Takahashi M, Trinkoff A, Nakata A. Cincinnati, OH: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2015-115 (Revised 10/2021). https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2015115revised102021 |
| October, 2023 | New continuing education (CE) certificates through CDC Training and Continuing Education Online for this training launched on 10/16/2023 to replace the CE programs which expired on 10/15/2023. The edits required to make the training eligible for continuing education certificates for another 2 years included these on the landing page, Learning Objectives page, Accreditation Statement page, Part 1 course completion page, and Part 2 course completion page.
|
NIOSH [2015]. NIOSH training for nurses on shift work and long work hours. By Caruso CC, Geiger-Brown J, Takahashi M, Trinkoff A, Nakata A. Cincinnati, OH: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2015-115 (Revised 10/2023). https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2015115revised102023 |
| April, 2024 | Update required for change from TCEO to CDC Train. | NIOSH [2015]. NIOSH training for nurses on shift work and long work hours. By Caruso CC, Geiger-Brown J, Takahashi M, Trinkoff A, Nakata A. Cincinnati, OH: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2015-115 (Revised 4/2024). https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2015115revised102023 |
To obtain a copy of a previous version of this communication product please contact CDC Info 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) | TTY: 1-888-232-6348 | cdc.gov/info