Shift work organization on nurse injuries: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Nursing Safety
• Workforce Management

Background:

• Extended work hours and shift work contribute to sleep deprivation, fatigue, and cognitive impairment in nurses.
• These factors negatively impact concentration, cognition, and overall employee safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the relationship between shift work schedules, work hours, and nurse injuries.
• Specifically examining needlestick/sharps injuries, drowsy driving, motor vehicle crashes, and work-related accidents.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review was performed.
• Searches were conducted across five major bibliographic databases.

Main Results:

• 34 articles from 14 countries were included in the review.
• Long work hours and overtime strongly correlate with increased risk of needlestick injuries, drowsy driving, and accidents.
• Rotating shifts elevate risks for needlestick injuries and accidents, while night/rotating shifts increase drowsy driving risks.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of nurse work hours and scheduling is vital for injury prevention.
• Nurse leaders must foster a safety culture through safe scheduling and injury monitoring.
• Implementing evidence-based practices is key to reducing nurse injuries.