While you get ready for bed at night, do you ever think about the people whose 'days' are just getting started? About 16% of the US workforce has non-standard schedules outside of traditional daytime hours. Shift work is associated with several detrimental health effects, including increased risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, gastrointestinal disturbances, depression, and psychological distress, making this a vulnerable population in need of health interventions.

In this session, you'll learn about sleep disorders commonly experienced by shift workers and how you can assess these patients to determine whether they should be referred to a sleep medicine provider. You'll review the literature on the metabolic detriments of circadian misalignment and nutrition interventions that can mitigate some of the health risks associated with shift work. Lastly, you'll consider realistic strategies for healthful eating within the challenges of a shift work schedule through the lens of a dietitian-turned-nurse who works night shift.

Planned with the Committee for Lifelong Learning