[Night work and nurses health]

A case study was carried out in a hospital to determine differences in health status, working environment, and spare-time activities among a group of nurses doing day and night shifts. 25% of the night shift nurses were selected for the study; an equal number of nurses of the same hospital who did not do night shifts were taken as controls. Health disorders due to night-shift working conditions as well as aspects that may or not influence personal satisfaction in this working activity are indicated.