Night Shift Nursing and Breast Cancer Risk

Abstract

Night shift work was first highlighted as a carcinogen in humans by the International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2007 (IARC Working Group, 2020). Breast cancer, the most common cancer diagnosed in women worldwide, was explicitly associated with night shift work. More than 23 million Americans are engaged in shift work, 14.2% of whom work in the healthcare industry (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019). Female nurses make up the most significant percentage of the healthcare industry (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2020). To provide care to patients 24 hours a day, these nurses are frequently engaged in night shift work. The purpose of this evidence-based practice review is to investigate the impact of night shift work on female nurses’ risk of developing breast cancer. Understanding elements of night shift work that contribute to the increased risk of breast cancer in nurses can guide healthcare organizations in making decisions to reduce the risk of occupational exposure to cancer.