Shift work characteristics and burnout among nurses: cross-sectional survey

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Nursing Practice
• Workplace Well-being

Background:

• Long working hours (≥12 hours) are linked to increased nurse burnout.
• Other shift characteristics like night work, weekly hours, and breaks require investigation.
• The moderating effect of shift length choice on burnout is untested.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between shift work characteristics and burnout/exhaustion in nurses.
• To determine if nurse autonomy in choosing shift length influences burnout and exhaustion.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with nursing staff in the UK and Ireland.
• Participants were recruited through National Health Service Trusts, nursing publications, and social media.
• Associations were analyzed using univariable and multivariable generalized linear models.

Main Results:

• Inadequate staffing and less choice over shift length were significantly associated with higher burnout.
• Rarely or never taking breaks predicted higher exhaustion.
• Nurses on 12-hour shifts reported less choice than those on 8-hour shifts, but choice did not moderate the shift length-burnout relationship.

Conclusions:

• The link between long shifts and burnout may stem from reduced staff autonomy.
• It remains unclear if limited staff choice is inherently tied to long shift durations.
• Further research is needed to understand the interplay between shift work, autonomy, and nurse well-being.