The impact of long work hours and shift work on cognitive errors in nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Occupational Health
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Extended work hours, particularly 12-hour shifts, are prevalent in hospitals.
• Concerns exist regarding the effects of long and irregular work hours on nurse well-being and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of long work hours and shift work on cognitive errors among nurses.
• To assess the impact of 8-hour versus 12-hour shifts on nurses' sleep patterns and cognitive performance.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 28 nurses working 8-hour day and 12-hour rotating shifts.
• Data collection included actigraphy, sleep diaries, and post-work questionnaires over four consecutive shifts.

Main Results:

• Nurses on 12-hour rotations experienced reduced total sleep time and lower sleep efficiency compared to those on 8-hour shifts.
• Nurses on 12-hour shifts also took more naps.
• No significant differences in cognitive errors were observed between the two groups.

Conclusions:

• Twelve-hour shift rotations adversely affect nurses' sleep patterns.
• Current evidence does not support an increase in cognitive errors associated with 12-hour shifts.
• Nurse managers should consider strategies like flexible scheduling and quiet rest periods to address sleep disturbances.