Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
08:36
Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
Published on: August 8, 2019
Influences of shift work on fatigue among nurses
Su Chuan Yuan1, Ming Chih Chou, Chiou Jong Chen
1College of Nursing, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Journal of Nursing Management
|April 22, 2011
Summary
Shift work significantly increases nurse fatigue and impairs physiological function compared to day work. These findings highlight the need for careful rostering to mitigate adverse effects on nursing staff.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Research
- Occupational Health
- Physiology
Background:
- Work schedules significantly impact healthcare professionals' well-being.
- Understanding the physiological and symptomatic effects of different nursing shifts is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare fatigue symptoms and physiological indices between day-working nurses and shift-working nurses.
Main Methods:
- 107 nurses assessed fatigue symptoms pre- and post-shift.
- Logistic regression analysis was used to compare groups.
- Critical flicker fusion was measured as a physiological index.
Main Results:
- Shift workers reported higher fatigue levels (OR = 2.44, P < 0.10).
- Significant differences in critical flicker fusion were observed (P = 0.032).
- Shift work was associated with poorer physiological indices compared to day work.
Conclusions:
- Work schedules demonstrably influence fatigue levels, with shift work leading to greater fatigue than day work.
- Nursing managers should consider the impact of work schedules on fatigue when creating staffing rosters.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Current Trends in Nursing II
Trends in nursing are multifactorial and associated with changes in society, within the nursing profession, and in other professions. Notably, telehealth and remote nursing contribute to successful healthcare delivery for numerous patients and help reduce stress for nurses due to nursing shortages. Nurses can reach patients, monitor their conditions, and interact with them using computers, audio, visual accessories, and telephones—for example, remote patient monitoring systems. Likewise,...
01:28Current Trends in Nursing I
Current trends in nursing include:
01:15Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
Circadian rhythms are cyclic changes that are crucial in plasma drug concentrations. Various standard circadian parameters, including core body temperature, heart rate, and other cardiovascular factors, directly impact disease states and the therapeutic response to drug therapy.
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
01:13Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
01:27Ethical Issues
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:08Obedience
According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the inappropriate orders were delivered with less force? The increasing interdependence between nurses and physicians compelled Hofling and his colleagues to explore nurses’ reactions to a potentially harmful medical request made by the perceived authority figure, the doctor (Hofling, Brotzman, Dalrymple, Graves, & Pierce, 1966). In this situation, obedience...