---
title: "NIOSH: How Night-Shift Nurses Should Time Caffeine"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/c7b649fc-5892-482e-96c4-1a0a213e885f
source_url: "https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/work-hour-training-for-nurses/longhours/mod6/11.html"
stack: https://stacklist.com/c/wellness/stack/f2eedf5e-26d1-4fb4-9246-f3b127aed0e5
summary: "NIOSH training content explains how nurses should time caffeine consumption during shift work to maintain alertness while minimizing sleep disruption. Caffeine takes 30 minutes to take effect and has a 5-6 hour half-life, so consuming it near the end of a night shift can cause restlessness during daytime sleep."
tags: "caffeine, night-shift, nurses, sleep, shift-work, alertness, occupational-health"
key_entities: "NIOSH (organization), caffeine (concept), shift-work (concept), sleep (concept), Mayo Clinic (organization)"
classification: "tutorial"
content_hash: "sha256:eca95d52c201d7ff95bf3a3d6f1c1335fc6dd08bfcc912dfb35ff97460a74c18"
acp_version: "0.2"
token_counts_approximate: 276
visibility: public
agent_accessible: true
status: "final"
---

# NIOSH: How Night-Shift Nurses Should Time Caffeine

NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours Print Minus Related Pages Sleep Aids and Stimulants (Continued) Many nurses drink caffeinated beverages routinely, without giving it much thought. You might use these as a pick-me-up in the morning or afternoon or to remain awake on the night shift. Caffeine is a stimulant, and when used judiciously it can aid alertness. However, it can also reduce sleep, so it is important to understand its properties. Caffeine takes about 30 minutes (range, 15-45 minutes) to take effect and has a half-life of 5 to 6 hours but can remain in your system much longer. 4 If you drink a cup of coffee near the end of a night shift, there can still be enough caffeine in your system to cause restlessness or waking while you are trying to sleep the morning after your shift. Notice how caffeine affects you as well as the caffeine content in your favorite drinks (see Table 6.1 and www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeine/AN01211 ). PREVIOUS Module: 6, Page 11 of 20 NEXT Last Reviewed: March 31, 2020 Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health