Not getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep has negative consequences for everything from the central nervous system and digestive system to cardiovascular health, according to a . Immune and respiratory systems also are at risk, making it difficult to fight off and recover from illnesses. Missing sleep also increases vulnerability to respiratory infections, such as the common cold and flu, the article said. Sleep deprivation dramatically disrupts brain function and affects a person's ability to concentrate and remember new information, according to the article. Lack of sleep also decreases coordination skills and increases the risk for accidents — an especially dangerous combination for nurses on any shift. “Sleep deprivation also negatively affects your mental abilities and emotional state,” the authors wrote. “You may feel more impatient or prone to mood swings. It also can compromise decision-making processes and creativity. If sleep deprivation continues long enough, you could start having hallucinations ... A lack of sleep can also trigger mania in people who have manic depression.” also increases the risks for impulsive behavior, depression, suicidal thoughts and paranoia, according to the article.

With 75% of nurses working 12-hour shifts, RNs may be prone to fatigue and reduced stress, Nancy J. Brent, MS, JD, RN, wrote in a . Working a 12-hour shift or working overtime not only resulted in nurses having trouble staying awake during shifts, but nearly tripled the risk of making errors, according to a study Brent cited by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System. Common medication errors linked to nurse fatigue included wrong doses, dose omission and extra doses, Brent wrote.

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