Work schedule characteristics and occupational fatigue/recovery among rotating-shift nurses: A cross-sectional study
Ari Min PhD, RN
Assistant Professor
Department of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Hye Chong Hong PhD, RN
Assistant Professor
Department of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
Correspondence
Hye Chong Hong, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Bldg 106, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, South Korea.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorYoung Man Kim PhD, RN
Assistant Professor
College of Nursing, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorAri Min PhD, RN
Assistant Professor
Department of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Hye Chong Hong PhD, RN
Assistant Professor
Department of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
Correspondence
Hye Chong Hong, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Bldg 106, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, South Korea.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorYoung Man Kim PhD, RN
Assistant Professor
College of Nursing, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, South Korea
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information: National Research Foundation of Korea, Grant/Award Number: 2018R1D1A1B07042018
Abstract
Aims
To determine the effects of work schedule characteristics on occupational fatigue and recovery among rotating-shift nurses in South Korea.
Background
Understanding the effects of work schedule characteristics on occupational fatigue is important to prevent adverse nurse outcomes and to ensure patient safety.
Methods
This study used secondary data analysis with a cross-sectional design. Data were collected on 436 rotating-shift nurses in 2018. Nurses' occupational fatigue and recovery were measured using the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion/Recovery Scale. We used quantile regression models.
Results
The scores for acute and chronic fatigue and intershift recovery were 70.40, 73.39, and 29.82, respectively. Overtime hours, number of night shifts, number of consecutive days off, and breaks were significant influential factors in some quantiles of acute fatigue, chronic fatigue, and intershift recovery, while total working hours was only associated with chronic fatigue in the 25th quantile.
Conclusions
The quantile and linear regression models revealed different results for work schedule factors that affect occupational fatigue and intershift recovery among rotating-shift nurses.
Implication for Nursing Management
These findings have important implications for developing targeted strategies and policies to reduce occupational fatigue and improve intershift recovery for rotating-shift nurses with different levels of occupational fatigue and recovery.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
Supporting Information
Filename | Description |
---|---|
jonm13511-sup-0001-Supplementary table_OFER_QR_jnm_amin.docxWord 2007 document , 631.4 KB |
Table S1. Descriptive statistics of work schedule characteristics and occupational fatigue exhaustion recovery (N = 436) Table S2. Results of one-way ANONA for occupational fatigue and recovery Figure S1. Association between work schedule characteristics and acute fatigue. Figures (a)–(e) show the relationship between the predictors and quantiles of acute fatigue in the final quantile regression model. The quantile regression model was adjusted for nurse characteristics (gender, age, marital status, parental status, education level, monthly income, work experience), unit characteristics (unit type, care model), and hospital characteristics (location, number of beds, teaching hospital, number of assigned patients). The red solid line represents the slope for each quantile, and the grey-shaded areas represent 95% confidence intervals. The black dotted line shows the regression line estimated by the least squares method. Figure S2. Association between work schedule characteristics and intershift recovery. Figures (a)–(e) show the relationship between the predictors and quantiles of intershift recovery in the final quantile regression model. The quantile regression model was adjusted for nurse characteristics (gender, age, marital status, parental status, education level, monthly income, work experience), unit characteristics (unit type, care model), and hospital characteristics (location, number of beds, teaching hospital, number of assigned patients). The blue solid line represents the slope for each quantile, and the grey-shaded areas represent 95% confidence intervals. The black dotted line shows the regression line estimated by the least squares method. Figure S3. Association between work schedule characteristics and chronic fatigue. Figures (a)–(e) show the relationship between the predictors and the quantiles of chronic fatigue in the final quantile regression model. The quantile regression model was adjusted for nurse characteristics (gender, age, marital status, parental status, education level, monthly income, work experience), unit characteristics (unit type, care model), and hospital characteristics (location, number of beds, teaching hospital, number of assigned patients). The red solid line represents the slope for each quantile, and the grey-shaded areas represent 95% confidence intervals. The black dotted line shows the regression line estimated by the least squares method. |
Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
REFERENCES
- Akbari, H., Ghasemi, F., Akbari, H., & Adibzadeh, A. (2018). Predicting needlestick and sharps injuries and determining preventive strategies using a Bayesian network approach in Tehran, Iran. Epidemiology and Health, 40, e2018042. https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2018042
- American Nurses Association. (2014). Addressing nurse fatigue to promote safety and health: Joint responsibilities of registered nurses and employers to reduce risks. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/official-position-statements/id/addressing-nurse-fatigue-to-promote-safety-and-health/
- Bae, S. H., & Fabry, D. (2014). Assessing the relationships between nurse work hours/overtime and nurse and patient outcomes: Systematic literature review. Nursing Outlook, 62(2), 138–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2013.10.009
- Bae, S. H., Hwang, S. W., & Lee, G. (2018). Work hours, overtime, and break time of registered nurses working in medium-sized Korean hospitals. Workplace Health & Safety, 66(12), 588–596. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165079918769683
- Bae, S. H., & Yoon, J. (2014). Impact of states' nurse work hour regulations on overtime practices and work hours among registered nurses. Health Services Research, 49(5), 1638–1658. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.12179
- Barker, L. M., & Nussbaum, M. A. (2011). Fatigue, performance and the work environment: A survey of registered nurses: Fatigue, performance and the work environment. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 67(6), 1370–1382. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2010.05597.x
- Bazazan, A., Dianat, I., Mombeini, Z., Aynehchi, A., & Asghari Jafarabadi, M. (2019). Fatigue as a mediator of the relationship between quality of life and mental health problems in hospital nurses. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 126, 31–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2018.01.042
- Blasche, G., Bauböck, V. M., & Haluza, D. (2017). Work-related self-assessed fatigue and recovery among nurses. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 90(2), 197–205. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-016-1187-6
- Carthon, J. M. B., Lasater, K. B., Sloane, D. M., & Kutney-Lee, A. (2015). The quality of hospital work environments and missed nursing care is linked to heart failure readmissions: A cross-sectional study of US hospitals. BMJ Quality and Safety, 24(4), 255–263. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003346
- Caruso C. C. (2014). Negative impacts of shiftwork and long work hours. Rehabilitation nursing: the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, 39(1), 16–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/rnj.107
- Chaiard, J., Deeluea, J., Suksatit, B., Songkham, W., & Inta, N. (2018). Short sleep duration among Thai nurses: Influences on fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and occupational errors. Journal of Occupational Health, 60(5), 348–355. https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.2017-0258-OA
- Eldevik, M. F., Flo, E., Moen, B. E., Pallesen, S., & Bjorvatn, B. (2013). Insomnia, excessive sleepiness, excessive fatigue, anxiety, depression and shift work disorder in nurses having less than 11 hours in-between shifts. PLoS ONE, 8(8), e70882. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070882
- Eurofound. (2019). Rest breaks from work: Overview of regulations, research and practice, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/sites/default/files/ef_publication/field_ef_document/ef19018en.pdf
- Fang, J., Kunaviktikul, W., Olson, K., Chontawan, R., & Kaewthummanukul, T. (2008). Factors influencing fatigue in Chinese nurses. Nursing and Health Sciences, 10(4), 291–299. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.2008.00407.x
- Gander, P., O'Keeffe, K., Santos-Fernandez, E., Huntington, A., Walker, L., & Willis, J. (2019). Fatigue and nurses' work patterns: An online questionnaire survey. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 98, 67–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.06.011
- Haluza, D., Schmidt, V. M., & Blasche, G. (2019). Time course of recovery after two successive night shifts: A diary study among Austrian nurses. Journal of Nursing Management, 27(1), 190–196. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12664
- Han, K., Trinkoff, A. M., & Geiger-Brown, J. (2014). Factors associated with work-related fatigue and recovery in hospital nurses working 12-hour shifts. Workplace Health & Safety, 62(10), 409–414. https://doi.org/10.3928/21650799-20140826-01
- Honn, K. A. (2020). 24th international symposium on shiftwork and working time: Innovations in research and practice improving shiftworker health & safety. Chronobiology International, 37(9–10), 1273–1282. https://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2020.1831719
- Institute of Medicine. (2005). Building a better delivery system: A new engineering/health care partnership. The National Academies Press.
- Joint Commission. (2011). Sentinel event alert issue 48: Health care worker fatigue and patient safety. https://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/SEA_48_HCW_Fatigue_FINAL_w_2018_addendum.pdf
- Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. (2019). Nurse workers' night shift guidelines. http://www.bktimes.net/data/board_notice/1569290671-74.pdf
- Labor Standards Act. (2018). http://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EA%B7%BC%EB%A1%9C%EA%B8%B0%EC%A4%80%EB%B2%95 (in Korean)
- Lê Cook, B., & Manning, W. G. (2013). Thinking beyond the mean: A practical guide for using quantile regression methods for health services research. Shanghai Archives of Psychiatry, 25, 55–59. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1002-0829.2013.01.011
- Lee, J., Co, H., Chung, H., & Kim, H. (2016). Current status of work condition of healthcare workforce 2016. Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union. (In Korean)
- Li, M. (2015). Moving beyond the linear regression model: Advantages of the quantile regression model. Journal of Management, 41(1), 71–98. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206314551963
- Mehralizadeh, S., Dehdashti, A., & Motalebi Kashani, M. (2017). Structural equation model of interactions between risk factors and work-related musculoskeletal complaints among Iranian hospital nurses. Work, 57(1), 137–146. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-172534
- Messenger, J. (2018). Working time and the future of work. Future of Work Research Paper Series. International Labor Office. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/future-of-work/publications/research-
- Min, A., Kim, Y. M., Yoon, Y. S., Hong, H. C., Kang, M., & Scott, L. D. (2021). Effects of work environments and occupational fatigue on care left undone in rotating shift nurses. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 53(1), 126–136. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12604
- Min, A., Min, H., & Hong, H. C. (2019). Psychometric properties of the Korean version of the occupational fatigue exhaustion recovery scale in a nurse population. Research in Nursing & Health, 42(5), 358–368. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.21980
- Min, A., Yoon, Y. S., Hong, H. C., & Kim, Y. M. (2020). Association between nurses' breaks, missed nursing care and patient safety in Korean hospitals. Journal of Nursing Management, 28(8), 2266–2274. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12831
- Nejati, A., Rodiek, S., & Shepley, M. (2016). The implications of high-quality staff break areas for nurses' health, performance, job satisfaction and retention. Journal of Nursing Management, 24(4), 512–523. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12351
- Park, S. K., Jo, K. M., Jwa, Y. K., Kang, D. W., & Lee, Y. J. (2014). Survey on the current status of nurse activity. Korea Health Industry Development Institute. https://khiss.go.kr/board?menuId=MENU00308&siteId=null
- Sagherian, K., Clinton, M. E., Abu-Saad Huijer, H., & Geiger-Brown, J. (2017). Fatigue, work schedules, and perceived performance in bed-side care nurses. Workplace Health Safety, 65(7), 304–312. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165079916665398
- Sagherian, K., McNeely, C. A., & Steege, L. M. (2021). Did rest breaks help with acute fatigue among nursing staff on 12-h shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic? A cross-sectional study. Journal of Advanced Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14944
10.1111/jan.14944 Google Scholar
- Sagherian, K., Unick, G. J., Zhu, S., Derickson, D., Hinds, P. S., & Geiger-Brown, J. (2017). Acute fatigue predicts sickness absence in the workplace: A 1-year retrospective cohort study in paediatric nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 73(12), 2933–2941. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13357
- Seymour, J., McNamee, P., Scott, A., & Tinelli, M. (2010). Shedding new light onto the ceiling and floor? A quantile regression approach to compare EQ-5D and SF-6D responses. Journal of Health Economics, 19, 683–696. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.1505
- Smith-Miller, C. A., Shaw-Kokot, J., Curro, B., & Jones, C. B. (2014). An integrative review: Fatigue among nurses in acute care settings. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 44, 487–494. https://doi.org/10.1097/nna.0000000000000104
- Steege, L. M., & Rainbow, J. G. (2017). Fatigue in hospital nurses—“Supernurse” culture is a barrier to addressing problems: A qualitative interview study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 67, 20–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.11.014
- Stimpfel, A. W., Sloane, D. M., & Aiken, L. H. (2012). The longer the shifts for hospital nurses, the higher the levels of burnout and patient dissatisfaction. Health Affairs, 31(11), 2501–2509. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2011.1377
- Trinkoff, A. M., Johantgen, M., Storr, C. L., Gurses, A. P., Liang, Y., & Han, K. (2011). Nurses' work schedule characteristics, nurse staffing, and patient mortality. Nursing Research, 60(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0b013e3181fff15d
- Ungard, W., Kroger-Jarvis, M., & Davis, L. S. (2019). The impact of shift length on mood and fatigue in pediatric registered nurses. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 47, 167–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2019.05.014
- Wendsche, J., Ghadiri, A., Bengsch, A., & Wegge, J. (2017). Antecedents and outcomes of nurses' rest break organization: A scoping review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 75, 65–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2017.07.005
- Winwood P. C., & Lushington K. (2006). Disentangling the effects of psychological and physical work demands on sleep, recovery and maladaptive chronic stress outcomes within a large sample of Australian nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 56(6), 679–689. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.04055.x
- Winwood, P. C., Winefield, A. H., Dawson, D., & Lushington, K. (2005). Development and validation of a scale to measure work-related fatigue and recovery: The Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion/Recovery Scale (OFER). Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 47(6), 594–606. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jom.0000161740.71049.c4
- Yu, F., Somerville, D., & King, A. (2019). Exploring the impact of 12-hour shifts on nurse fatigue in intensive care units. Applied Nursing Research: ANR, 50, 151191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2019.151191