Shift Work-Nurses

1
Shift Work-Nurses

• Can a Shift Work be Made Tolerable?

2
Historical Perspective

• Rigid, inflexible shift patterns in the past
  ignored individual and put a strain on a mental
  workload
• Recruitment and retention problems
• Led to errors- impact on patients

3
New Perspective Arrangements Questioned

• Shift work in a healthcare cant be avoided
• Negative effects- inconsistent with Circadian
  Rhythm and Homeostatic Mechanisms
• 12 hour shifts detrimental ( to nurses
  consequently to patients, organization, Todd et
  al., 1993 Reid et al., 1993)
• Fatigue- negative effects on vigilance,
  concentration, judgement, mood, impaired memory,
  problem solving, decision-making(Blachowitz and
  Letizia, 2006)

4
New Approach

• Individual consultations
• Increased flexibility
• Overtime shifts avoided
• Forward rotation
• (Blachowitz and Letizie, 2006)

5
Promote Coping Strategies

• Healthy lifestyle
• Relaxing routines
• Consistent sleep patterns
• (Blachowitz and Letizie, 2006)

6
Conclusions/Future Recommendations

• Not a perfect solution
• Improving two-way communication
• Offering flexibility
• Financial rewards, career development
• More research conducted on shift workers
  perceptions

7
References

• Blachowitz E. And Letizia M.J.(2006). The
  Challenges of Shift Work. Nursing, 15, 274-281.
• Reid N, Robinson G, Todd C.(1994). The 12 hour
  shift the views of nurse educators and students.
  Journal of Advanced Nursing,19, 938-46.
• Todd C, Reid N, Robinson G. (1993 )12 hour
  shifts Job satisfaction of nurses. Journal of
  Nursing Management 1993 1 215-20.