Working hour characteristics and schedules among nurses in three Nordic countries - a comparative study using payroll...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Nursing Workforce Studies
• Comparative Health Policy

Background:

• Working hour regulations in EU countries are similar, but national implementation may lead to variations.
• Little is known about cross-national differences in nursing personnel work schedules.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for interpreting health and safety study findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare working hour characteristics and work schedules among nursing personnel in Denmark, Finland, and Norway.
• To identify potential variations in shift timings, durations, and rotation patterns.

Main Methods:

• Utilized objective payroll data from public hospital nursing staff in Denmark (n=63,678), Finland (n=18,257), and Norway (n=1538) in 2013.
• Analyzed daily start/end times to compare shift characteristics like starting time, duration, and quick returns (<11h between shifts).
• Examined work schedules, including permanent and 3-shift work, across the three countries.

Main Results:

• Night shifts started earlier and lasted longer in Finland compared to Norway and Denmark.
• Very long shifts (≥12h) were most common in Denmark (12%), followed by Finland (8%) and Norway (3%).
• Norway had the highest frequency of 3-shift rotation workers (41%), with Denmark and Finland at 22% each. Quick returns were also more frequent in Norway and Finland.

Conclusions:

• Significant differences exist in working hour characteristics and schedule types among nurses in Denmark, Finland, and Norway, despite similar overall operational hours.
• These variations in shift patterns and durations may influence nurse health and safety outcomes.
• Further research is needed to explore the implications of these cross-national differences.