Examining Nurses' Perception of Shift Work and Evaluating Supportive Interventions.

Area of Science:

• Nursing and Healthcare Management
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Healthcare systems rely on a balance between nurse safety and patient safety.
• Shift work, common in nursing, can negatively impact this equilibrium, leading to adverse outcomes for both staff and patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate nurses' perceptions of shift work's impact on their tasks and lives.
• To understand nurses' current use of fatigue countermeasures.
• To gauge nurses' interest in various risk-mitigating interventions.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was administered to a cohort of nurses.
• The survey collected data on perceptions of day vs. night shifts.
• It also assessed the utilization of fatigue countermeasures and interest in potential interventions.

Main Results:

• Nurses reported significant differences in completing work and personal tasks between day and night shifts.
• Fatigue countermeasures were more frequently employed during night shifts.
• Nurses expressed interest in interventions such as blackout curtains, on-site fitness facilities, nutritional consultations, and block scheduling.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare leaders must consider nurses' perspectives when developing strategies to address the challenges of shift work.
• Implementing interventions based on nurse input can help mitigate the adverse effects of shift work on nurse and patient safety.