Exposing nurses to bright lights before nights shifts can reduce errors

Nurses exposed to 40 minutes of bright light before their night shifts feel less fatigued and make fewer errors at work, a study found. Published last week in Sleep Health, the study also found nurses exposed to bright light slept better after their shifts. Researchers recruited nearly 60 nurses at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal. During a 10-day observation period, nurses in the experimental group made 21 errors. However, when exposed to bright light from a portable light box before their night shift, errors fell by 67%. Nurses in the control group who changed their diet to improve their alertness showed a 5% reduction in errors. The authors believe giving nurses light exposure before their night shifts could reduce fatigue and its effects on performance. (Newswise release 4/21/23)