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Keeping Residents in the Dark: Do Night-Float Rotations Provide a Valuable Educational Experience?
Alessandra Landmann1, Heidi Mahnken1, Mara B Antonoff2
1Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Journal of Surgical Education
|August 23, 2017
Summary
Surgical residents on overnight rotations primarily engage in educational activities, balancing patient care with learning. These night shifts offer valuable training opportunities despite work-hour changes.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Training
- Resident Well-being
Background:
- Work-hour restrictions necessitate adaptations in surgical residency programs.
- Understanding resident activities during overnight rotations is crucial for optimizing training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize and quantify the activities of surgical residents during overnight rotations.
- To assess the educational value and resident satisfaction with night-float experiences.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, 3-phase study involving surgical residents.
- Data collection included needs assessment, direct observation of activities, and resident feedback.
- The study was conducted at a tertiary referral and Level 1 trauma center.
Main Results:
- 60% of recorded resident pages involved time-sensitive patient care activities.
- Residents dedicated 62% of their time to educational activities.
- Residents reported high satisfaction with learning opportunities and a good balance of service and education during night float.
Conclusions:
- Overnight rotations provide significant educational benefits for surgical residents.
- Despite work-hour regulations, night-float remains a valuable component of surgical training.
- Resident activities on overnight shifts are predominantly educational, complemented by essential patient care.
