Unhealthy healthcare?
Date
2012-09-10
Authors
Straight, Heather
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
British Columbian nurses are experiencing alarmingly high rates of sick-time,
injury claims and long-term disability claims. Compared to 47 categories of occupation,
nurses have the highest rates of illness and injury-related absenteeism. Ironically, these
injuries and illnesses occur while nurses are ‘caring’ for others. Is it time we ‘cared’ for
nurses? The purpose of this paper is to discover what is known about the ‘health and
safety’ implications for nurses working shift work and what strategies can be used to
prepare and support nurses in their practice settings? The topic is addressed at three
levels; 1) micro which focuses on the individual nurse; 2) meso which addresses
environmental and organizational factors; and 3) the macro level which refers to
organizations influencing nursing such as governments or national organizations.
Shift workers are known to experience a higher incidence of sleep distrubances,
disrupted eating patterns and work-home conflict. Fatigue, a common complaint of shift
workers, can negatively impact nurses’ lives both on and off the job. In addition, shift
workers may suffer social isolation as their shifts are misaligned as compared with that of
their friends or familes.
The findings of this paper conclude there is a lack of shift worker education, both
in the academic and practice sectors in nursing. Although there has been a lot of research
conducted about shift work, there has been very little resultant action in the practice
setting. Nurses must work shift work to provide 24-hour care for their patients so a
greater commitment from every level, micro, meso and macro is needed to support nurses
to safely work shift work.
Description
Keywords
shift work, wellness