← AANA Practice Manual
Practice Consideration
Fatigue, Sleep, and Work Schedule (Practice Consideration)
Last AANA revision: 2022
Long shifts and poor sleep produce errors equivalent to alcohol intoxication. AANA recommends limiting work to ≤ 16 contiguous hours, ≥ 10-hour rest between shifts, and ≥ 1 day off per week.
Key points
- 1.Hours awake > 17 → cognitive impairment ≈ BAC 0.05
- 2.Hours awake > 24 → ≈ BAC 0.10
- 3.Errors increase steeply after 12 contiguous hours of clinical work
- 4.Power-nap (20–30 min) during call when feasible
- 5.Speak up if too fatigued to safely deliver care — cultural shift required
This is an exam-prep summary, not a substitute for the full AANA document. Read the source at aana.com for authoritative wording. Education only.