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A computer-aided comparative study of progressive alertness changes in nurses working two different night-shift rotas

J Dingley1

  • 1De Montfort University, Leicester, England.

Journal of Advanced Nursing
|June 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

This study compared permanent versus rapidly rotating night shifts for nurses. Findings suggest neither shift pattern optimizes mental alertness, with performance declining throughout shifts and spans.

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Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health
  • Nursing Research
  • Human Factors

Background:

  • Hospital night shifts present challenges to staff well-being and performance.
  • Optimizing shift patterns is crucial for maintaining nurse alertness and patient safety.
  • Existing research offers conflicting evidence on the ideal night-shift schedule.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the optimal shift pattern for hospital night staff.
  • To assess the impact of different night-shift rotas on nurses' mental alertness.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated two groups of nurses working different night-shift rotas: permanent nights and rapidly rotating nights.
  • Assessed mental alertness subjectively using a visual analogue scale.
  • Assessed mental alertness objectively using a computer-based simple reaction time task.

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Main Results:

  • Nurses reported feeling less alert at the end of shifts and the end of work spans.
  • Objective testing showed performance was generally worse at the start of shifts.
  • Performance initially improved during a work span, peaking around day four, then plateaued or slightly declined.

Conclusions:

  • Neither permanent nor rapidly rotating night shifts appear to be optimal for maintaining nurse mental alertness.
  • The findings highlight the complexity of circadian adaptation to shift work.
  • Further research is needed to balance acclimatization benefits against the drawbacks of prolonged exposure to night shifts.