About appropriate staffing

Fatigue and its impact on the individual Registered Nurse is a complex and individual occurrence. It is, however, a safety and ethical issue. Nursing must work together so nurses do not feel the need to work additional hours or jobs to meet reasonable financial needs. Nursing must also not punish nurses that refuse to work overtime but accept their decision as one made with the best interests of the patient at heart. The question needs to be asked, "Is having a nurse working fatigued a greater threat to patient and nurse safety than not having anyone present at all? Let's make sure we put the patient's well-being first, which in this instance means putting our own well-beings first also.