Implementing a fatigue countermeasures program for nurses: a focus group analysis

The purpose of this study was to describe the structural, organizational, and environmental factors associated with the implementation a fatigue countermeasures program for nurses (FCMPN).

The industrial sector has developed fatigue management programs to improve safety for employees and customers. However, fatigue management programs have not been developed for nurses.

The oral descriptions of 46 staff nurses and 8 nurse managers participating in an FCMPN were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed.

Staff nurses identified awareness, restfulness, and lifestyle control as FCMPN benefits, whereas challenges included work culture, physical environment, and emotional turmoil. Nurse managers perceived ease of program implementation, employee-employer partnerships, and research engagement as benefits. Challenges included lack of support, nursing/organizational culture, and dissonance in staff levels and organizational policies.

Although FCMPNs are feasible and sustainable in healthcare, a paradigm shift may be needed for a robust implementation of an effective FCMPN that improves patient safety.