Mixed

Rotating shift work, particularly transitions involving evening-to-day shifts or consecutive night shifts, causes significant sleep restriction and circadian misalignment, leading to impaired objective alertness and performance (slower reaction times and more lapses) during night shifts.

If you work rotating shifts, especially nights, expect significant sleep loss and performance impairment. This is worst when transitioning from evening to day shifts or working consecutive nights. Do not rely on how you feel to judge your safety; objective performance remains poor on subsequent nights even if you feel subjectively better. Prioritize sleep duration between shifts, particularly avoiding 'quick returns' from evening to day shifts.