ABSTRACT
Sleep is a fundamental need and yet the purpose of it remains unclear. Knowledge about sleep and sleep disorders is important for health care professionals since it affects individuals as well as the wider family and communities within which individuals live. Like in many activities of daily living, nurses and health care professionals caring for patients are in a central position to evaluate and intervene to promote sleep for patients or clients. Nurses are also not immune. Shift patterns, stresses and busy lives mean nurses need to manage their own health risks and optimise their health and wellbeing. Part of this includes a more comprehensive understanding of sleep and circadian and other rhythms as well as minimising the impacts of sleep deprivation.
