New “chrono-schedule” helps nurses recover faster after night shifts

Jeroen Bosch Hospital (JBZ) in Den Bosch, the Netherlands, has reported encouraging early results from a new night-shift system called a “chrono-schedule”. In a pilot study, nurses working under the new system said they felt less exhausted after night shifts, had less difficulty staying awake, and recovered more quickly afterwards.

Photo by Amir Arabshahi on Unsplash

Instead of working a full night shift, staff worked shorter shifts from 8.00 pm to 4.00 am or from 4.00 am to 12.00 pm, with a daytime shift in between. This meant they could still sleep during part of the night. The trial also found fewer stomach and bowel complaints, and many nurses said they felt recovered within a day rather than needing two or three days.

Doctors involved in the project say the new system appears to fit better with the body’s natural rhythm. However, it may not suit everyone, as it can affect social life and evening activities. Because some of the staff do not want to go back to the old schedule, the hospital will continue using the chrono-schedule for now and will carry out a follow-up study in the summer before deciding whether to introduce it permanently.