Articles & News About Jobs & Employment

Thirty-two Percent of RNs Say They Shouldn't Be on the Road After Work

Sausalito, CA (PRWEB) April 10, 2008 -- For those in the medical profession sleep is essential, for the care of their patients. But what happens after they head home is concerning the medical community.

In a national online survey conducted by the American Society of Registered Nurses (ASRN.ORG), 32% of the Registered Nurses surveyed said they were too exhausted and fatigued after work to be driving and "shouldn't be on the road."

"Nurses who work at night are four more times likely to experience a drowsy-driving episode," said Linda Scott, director of Grand Valley State University's nursing program.

"In addition, the risk of crashes almost doubles for drivers working night shifts that exceed 12.5 hours in length."

There are two main causes of drowsy driving:

? Sleep restriction

Persons getting less than the recommended seven-to-eight hours of sleep each night are more

likely to feel tired the following day, which can ultimately affect their cognizance behind the

wheel. Not getting enough sleep on a consistent basis can create "sleep debt" and lead to

chronic sleepiness over time. While some factors, including working at a job that requires long

hours and familial responsibilities, are beyond a person's control, other reasons for sleep

restriction represent a lifestyle choice. This includes sleeping less to have more time to work,

study, socialize or participate in other activities.

?Sleep fragmentation

Sleep fragmentation causes an inadequate amount of sleep and can negatively affect a person's

functioning during the daytime. Sleep fragmentation can have internal and external causes. The

primary internal cause is sickness, including untreated sleep disorders. External factors that

can prevent a person's ability to have a full, refreshing night of sleep include noise, children,

bright lights and a restless bed partner.

Eight to nine hours of sleep is optimal and sufficient sleep benefits alertness, memory and problem solving, and overall health, as well as reducing the risk of accidents according to the National Sleep Foundation. A widely publicized 2003 study performed at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine demonstrated that cognitive performance declines with fewer than eight hours of sleep.

For nurses who work mandatory overtime, double shifts or simply do not get off until after midnight or sometimes morning, it is nearly impossible to ensure seven to eight hours of sleep.

So how do nurses avoid drowsy driving? That can be up for debate. But the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has a few tips, although some are impossible to follow:

?Get enough sleep

AASM recommends that adults get seven-to-eight hours of sleep each night in order to maintain

good health and optimum performance.

?Take breaks while driving

If you become drowsy while driving, pull off to a rest area and take a short nap, preferably 15-20

minutes in length.

?Consume caffeine

Caffeine improves alertness in people who are fatigued.

?Do not drink alcohol

Alcohol can further impair a person's ability to stay awake and make good decisions. Taking the

wheel after having just one glass of alcohol can affect your level of fatigue while driving.

? Do not drive late at night

Avoid driving after midnight, which is a natural period of sleepiness.

Nationwide, drowsy driving is the direct cause of approximately 100,000 police-reported crashes annually, resulting in an estimated 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

###

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

7 Benefits of Owning a Computer Work at Home Job
Computer work at home jobs are growing in numbers Some cost very little to start-up and others are completely free to start

On Campus Interviews - A Chance For Your "First Job" As Well As Career Employment
During the course of training or secondary educations some organizations - companies, firms as well as major non-profit organizations of great status and reputation will offer campus interviews to graduating students in such fields as engineering, electronics, business management, law accounting, computer information systems and marketing

Legitimate Work at Home Jobs Career - 4 Amazing Tips to Increase Efficiency
When you have picked one of the many legitimate work at home jobs career and are ready to settle down and make some money, it helps to make your home based business as efficient as possible One of the most important benefits resulting from obtaining legitimate work at home jobs career is the ability to improve income levels through increased efficiency in performing the tasks associated with the jobs

Job Work From Home On My Computer
In my long quest for a job, work from home on my computer seemed to be the best available option Especially, since I needed to work around the many schedules of my family

Finding that Work at Home Job - A Job in Itself
The trend of corporate America creating work at home jobs for telecommuters is growing, which is good news for those of you who are looking to do your work in your pajamas every day. Technology has made the work at home job more appealing to both bosses and employees, though it does not mean the trend has hit the mainstream, so a work at home job can still be hard to find.

Work at Home Jobs Vs Self Employment
Work at Home Jobs vs Owning a Home Based BusinessNot everyone is interested in owning their own home business, but a lot of people are interested in dropping out of the rat race a little bit. More and more jobs are available where you can work from home.

Legitimate Work From Home Jobs - 4 Important Things to Consider Before Starting This Career Path
When you are selecting legitimate work from home jobs career, money is important, but there are some other factors that should be considered before making the final decision Before beginning even legitimate work from home jobs career, you should think about some of the factors that will help to make your venture succeed or fail

Work From Home - How To Prepare For A Work From Home Job
Surely, you must have already heard about the perks of working from home Not only do you get the opportunity of being with your loved ones, but also the chance of earning good money doing what you like

Being A Work At Home Business Opportunity Seeker And Finding Work From Home Jobs
The problem with work from home jobs is simply that so many people want to have them Because of this, there are lots of people who want to take advantage of people who truly want to be able to have the freedom of a home business

Work at Home Businesses Versus Work at Home Jobs
Is a work at home business better than a work at home job? You bet. Hands down. But each option has pros and cons. It may be that for right now you're just not ready to start a work at home business. Its a big committment. That's OK. But if you're dedicated, smart and willing to work harder than most, settling for a work at home job could be selling yourself short.

Legitimate Work At Home Jobs - Become Wealthy Working From Home
It all started when I was franticly going from company to company passing out my resume, needing a job so bad it hurt I had a college degree but could not get hired no matter what for the life of me

Work at Home Data Entry Jobs, Work at Home, Data Entry Jobs
37 Work at Home Data Entry Jobs - The New Age Career Move

Work at Home Data Entry Jobs Career Are Available Now
Work at home data entry jobs career allow you the freedom to spend more time with your family It is perfect employment for someone who is looking for a job they can control themselves

2 Major Reasons to Get a Computer Work at Home Job
It surprises me how many people are still skeptical about putting their computer to work Thousands of people earn work at home incomes via the internet