NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours

Communicate Schedule Information

As appropriate for your situation, you can share your work hours and likely sleep patterns with family and friends. You can mark these schedules on your home calendar, on an electronic calendar on the computer or mobile phone, or on cards to hand out.

If you have a supportive relationship with close neighbors and sharing your schedule information would not lead to safety concerns, tell them when you expect to need to sleep so that they can try to avoid noisy outdoor activities then.

If your work schedule is going to change, tell the important people in your life ahead of time and discuss how this might affect your availability and home responsibilities.