Researchers at McGill University conducted a study to explore how bright light exposure could influence the performance and well being of nurses during night shifts. The findings indicate that a 40-minute session with a portable bright-light device taken before a night shift can noticeably reduce fatigue, sharpen focus, and diminish the likelihood of mistakes at work. The results were reported in the journal Sleep Health, signaling a meaningful step toward non-drug strategies for sustaining alertness and accuracy in demanding nocturnal environments.
Involving roughly 60 nursing professionals, the study followed a design where participants operated on a rotating schedule that alternated between night and day shifts across a single work week. Over a 10-day period, the group assigned to the light intervention logged a total of 21 errors, including incidents such as incorrect medication dosing and accidental needle sticks. This dataset provides a concrete comparison against baseline performance experienced by similar teams under typical lighting conditions and shift patterns.
Administration of bright light for 40 minutes prior to night duties led to a substantial drop in errors, with the count falling to seven — a reduction of about 67 percent relative to the control period. This outcome aligns with outcomes from a prior investigation, where a comparable lighting intervention produced a roughly 62 percent decrease in error frequency. By strengthening vigilance and reaction time, the approach demonstrates potential for broad applicability in settings that rely on precise, high-stakes care during overnight hours.
Beyond the numerical improvements, nurses reported feeling less tired and experiencing better subjective sleep quality during days following the night shifts. The authors of the study also highlighted the broader economic implications: estimates for the cost of medical errors across North America run into tens of billions of dollars annually. In light of these findings, the research team suggests that the bright-light strategy could be adapted for other professions with substantial night work demands, where alertness and accuracy are critical to safety and patient outcomes. The practical takeaway is clear: lighting environments can be a powerful, low-cost tool for supporting nocturnal staff, reducing risk, and enhancing overall performance in healthcare and related fields — a conclusion noted in the Sleep Health report from the study’s authors.