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[Alternating shifts: mental fatigue in nurses]
Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Hospital nurses on rotating shifts experience significant mental fatigue, with symptoms like irritability and sleep disturbances. Night shifts showed the highest incidence of fatigue symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Nursing Research
- Psychology
Context:
- Nurses in university hospitals often work demanding shift schedules.
- Rotating shifts can disrupt circadian rhythms and impact well-being.
- Previous research indicates shift work is associated with health risks.
Purpose:
- To detect signs and symptoms of mental fatigue in hospital nurses.
- To evaluate the impact of different shift schedules (morning, afternoon, night) on nurse fatigue.
- To compare subjective and objective measures of mental fatigue.
Summary:
- A 15-day study analyzed 12 nurses across morning, afternoon, and night shifts.
- Mental fatigue was assessed using subjective checklists and objective measures: critical frequency of light fusion (Flicker) and reaction time to auditory stimulus (RTs).
- Nurses reported dissatisfaction with the schedule and exhibited fatigue symptoms, with higher incidence during night shifts.
Impact:
- Rotating shift work poses hazards to nurses' health, social, and professional lives.
- Findings indicate significant mental fatigue, irritability, and sleep disturbances among nurses.
- Objective measures revealed fatigue patterns varying by shift type, highlighting the need for schedule optimization.