TY - JOUR
T1 - 12-hr shifts in nursing
T2 - Do they remove unproductive time and information loss or do they reduce education and discussion opportunities for nurses? A cross-sectional study in 12 European countries
AU - the RN4CAST Consortium
AU - Dall’Ora, Chiara
AU - Griffiths, Peter
AU - Emmanuel, Talia
AU - Marie Rafferty, Anne
AU - Ewings, Sean
AU - Sermeus, Walter
AU - Van den Heede, Koen
AU - Bruyneel, Luk
AU - Lesaffre, Emmanuel
AU - Aiken, Linda
AU - Smith, Herbert
AU - Sloane, Douglas
AU - Marie Rafferty, Anne
AU - Jones, Simon
AU - Ball, Jane
AU - Kinnunen, Juha
AU - Ensio, Anneli
AU - Jylhä, Virpi
AU - Busse, Reinhard
AU - Zander, Britta
AU - Blümel, Miriam
AU - Mantas, John
AU - Diomidous, Marianna
AU - Scott, Anne
AU - Matthews, Anne
AU - Staines, Anthony
AU - Strømseng Sjetne, Ingeborg
AU - Margrethe Holter, Inger
AU - Brzostek, Tomasz
AU - Kózka, Maria
AU - Brzyski, Piotr
AU - Moreno-Casbas, Teresa
AU - Fuentelsaz-Gallego, Carmen
AU - Gonzalez-María, Esther
AU - Gomez-Garcia, Teresa
AU - Tishelman, Carol
AU - Lindqvist, Rikard
AU - Smeds-Alenius, Lisa
AU - De Geest, Sabina
AU - Schubert, Maria
AU - Schwendimann, René
AU - Ausserhofer, Dietmar
AU - van Achterberg, Theo
AU - Heinen, Maud
AU - Schoonhoven, Lisette
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Aims and objectives: To examine the association between registered nurses' (referred to as “nurses” for brevity) shifts of 12 hr or more and presence of continuing educational programmes; ability to discuss patient care with other nurses; assignments that foster continuity of care; and patient care information being lost during handovers. Background: The introduction of long shifts (i.e., shifts of 12 hr or more) remains controversial. While there are claims of efficiency, studies have shown long shifts to be associated with adverse effects on quality of care. Efficiency claims are predicated on the assumption that long shifts reduce overlaps between shifts; these overlaps are believed to be unproductive and dangerous. However, there are potentially valuable educational and communication activities that occur during these overlaps. Design: Cross-sectional survey of 31,627 nurses within 487 hospitals in 12 European countries. Methods: The associations were measured through generalised linear mixed models. The study methods were compliant with the STROBE checklist. Results: When nurses worked shifts of 12 hr or more, they were less likely to report having continuing educational programmes; and time to discuss patient care with other nurses, compared to nurses working 8 hr or less. Nurses working shifts of 12 hr or more were less likely to report assignments that foster continuity of care, albeit the association was not significant. Similarly, working long shifts was associated with reports of patient care information being lost during handovers, although association was not significant. Conclusion: Working shifts of 12 hr or more is associated with reduced educational activities and fewer opportunities to discuss patient care, with potential negative consequences for safe and effective care. Relevance to clinical practice: Implementation of long shifts should be questioned, as reduced opportunity to discuss care or participate in educational activities may jeopardise the quality and safety of care for patients.
AB - Aims and objectives: To examine the association between registered nurses' (referred to as “nurses” for brevity) shifts of 12 hr or more and presence of continuing educational programmes; ability to discuss patient care with other nurses; assignments that foster continuity of care; and patient care information being lost during handovers. Background: The introduction of long shifts (i.e., shifts of 12 hr or more) remains controversial. While there are claims of efficiency, studies have shown long shifts to be associated with adverse effects on quality of care. Efficiency claims are predicated on the assumption that long shifts reduce overlaps between shifts; these overlaps are believed to be unproductive and dangerous. However, there are potentially valuable educational and communication activities that occur during these overlaps. Design: Cross-sectional survey of 31,627 nurses within 487 hospitals in 12 European countries. Methods: The associations were measured through generalised linear mixed models. The study methods were compliant with the STROBE checklist. Results: When nurses worked shifts of 12 hr or more, they were less likely to report having continuing educational programmes; and time to discuss patient care with other nurses, compared to nurses working 8 hr or less. Nurses working shifts of 12 hr or more were less likely to report assignments that foster continuity of care, albeit the association was not significant. Similarly, working long shifts was associated with reports of patient care information being lost during handovers, although association was not significant. Conclusion: Working shifts of 12 hr or more is associated with reduced educational activities and fewer opportunities to discuss patient care, with potential negative consequences for safe and effective care. Relevance to clinical practice: Implementation of long shifts should be questioned, as reduced opportunity to discuss care or participate in educational activities may jeopardise the quality and safety of care for patients.
KW - 12-hr shifts
KW - communication
KW - continuing
KW - continuity of patient care
KW - education
KW - nursing
KW - patient handoff
KW - shift work schedule
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85074609586&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/jocn.14977
DO - 10.1111/jocn.14977
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85074609586
SN - 0962-1067
VL - 29
SP - 53
EP - 59
JO - Journal of Clinical Nursing
JF - Journal of Clinical Nursing
IS - 1-2
ER -