Nurse's experience working 12-hour shift in a tertiary level hospital in Qatar: a mixed method study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Practice
• Occupational Health

Background:

• 12-hour nursing shifts are common in tertiary hospitals, aiming to improve efficiency.
• Limited research exists on nurses' experiences with 12-hour shifts in Qatar's unique healthcare context.
• This study addresses the need to understand nurse perceptions of 12-hour shifts in Qatar.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nurses' experiences working 12-hour shifts in a Qatari tertiary hospital.
• To assess the impact of 12-hour shifts on nurses' physical health, fatigue, stress, and job satisfaction.
• To evaluate the perceived effects of 12-hour shifts on service quality and patient safety.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining online surveys and semi-structured interviews.
• Quantitative data collected from 350 nurses; qualitative data from 11 nurses.
• Statistical analysis included Shapiro-Wilk, Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests; qualitative data analyzed thematically.

Main Results:

• Quantitative findings indicate negative impacts of 12-hour shifts on nurse well-being, satisfaction, and patient care outcomes.
• Thematic analysis revealed significant stress and burnout among nurses.
• Nurses reported immense pressure and difficulty maintaining productivity and focus during 12-hour shifts.

Conclusions:

• Nurses in Qatar express dissatisfaction with 12-hour shifts.
• High stress and burnout levels contribute to job dissatisfaction and adverse health concerns.
• Extended shifts pose challenges to sustained productivity and focus for nursing staff.