Factors affecting work ability in day and shift-working nurses.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Nursing Studies
• Psychosocial Factors

Background:

• Work ability is crucial for sustained employment and is influenced by health and working conditions.
• European nurses face diverse work schedules, including day, night, and rotating shifts, potentially impacting their work ability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of favorable and rewarding work-related factors on the work ability of European nurses.
• To determine if psychosocial factors, sleep quality/quantity, and job satisfaction influence nurses' Work Ability Index (WAI).

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study of 7,516 nurses across seven European countries using the Nurses' Early Exit Study cohort.
• Data collected via questionnaire at baseline and 1-year follow-up, measuring WAI, work schedule, sleep, rewards, pay satisfaction, work involvement, motivation, and working hour satisfaction.
• Univariate and multivariate analyses adjusted for confounders like country, age, sex, employment type, and family status.

Main Results:

• Work schedule was not directly related to changes in the Work Ability Index (WAI).
• Improved sleep quality and quantity, along with favorable psychosocial factors, significantly enhanced nurses' work ability.
• Permanent night workers reported the highest work involvement, motivation, and satisfaction with pay and rewards, while rotating shift workers reported the lowest.

Conclusions:

• While work schedule itself may not directly alter work ability, optimizing sleep and psychosocial conditions is key to maintaining and improving it among nurses.
• Interventions focusing on sleep enhancement and positive psychosocial environments may be more effective than solely altering work schedules to support nurse work ability.
• Understanding the nuances of different shift types, particularly the high engagement in permanent night shifts despite potential sleep impacts, is important for targeted support.