Critical care nurses--perceptions of 12-h shifts

Twelve-hour shifts have been illustrated in the literature as being a highly contentious shift pattern. However, it has also been highlighted that there is a distinct paucity of literature solely related to such a shift pattern in critical care areas, where there is high activity and a requirement for multiple and highly significant decision-making situations. It was therefore identified that such an area deserved further exploration.

This study aimed to elicit critical care nurses' perceptions of working 12-h shifts.

Fifty-four nurses from three critical care areas within a large local NHS teaching hospital currently working 12-h shifts completed a self-administered questionnaire on their perceptions of 12-h shifts. Following on, a focus group interview was conducted to complement this questionnaire in an attempt to further explore these perceptions.

From the results of the questionnaire, patient care, job satisfaction, off duty and family life achieved the most positive responses, whereas communication, fatigue and education achieved the most negative. The focus group explored these issues with added comments on work-shy staff, suggestions on shift patterns, breaks and staffing levels.

Twelve-hour shifts in critical care areas are suitable shift patterns for nurses, patients and management, provided that they are fundamentally well-managed.