Shiftwork and heat stress in an intensive care unit.

This paper reported the results of investigation on shiftwork and heat stress in an intensive care unit. The aim of this study was to analyse the physiological strain of nurses during the three shifts (Morning, Afternoon, Night) in relation to the specific microclimatic conditions and job activities. 8 professional nurses (6 female and 2 male), aged between 21 and 38 years (mean 29.8 +/- 5.6 years), having from 3 to 18 years service, were monitored throughout a complete working cycle of 4 days. They worked on a three shift system at fast rotation. Their working environment was an independent unit for intensive care and expert surgical treatment which was entirely air conditioned. The observation indexes included: twenty-five blood parameters, ten urine parameters, net cardiac cost and relation cardiac cost, etc. The results of the investigation have not evidenced serious alterations of the psycho-physical conditions of the nurses, but do pointed out some problems pertaining both to the environmental and physiological conditions.