NURSING

Effects of the 12 Hours vs. 8 Hours on the Nurses

Abstract

If we see at the general view we can say that there is no ideal shift system, both shift systems have some advantages and disadvantages whether it to be 8 hour shift or 12 hour shift. This paper is focusing on identifying the bad and good features of 8 hours shift over 12 hour shift on nurses. It is estimated from the research that errors occur in health care each year and out of those errors 49,000 to 99000 results in deaths of patients. This error has occurred because of different a reason that includes extension in the shift hours. Instead of the standard shifts nurses are now working more than 8 hours that are going to 10 to 12 hour shift per day.

It cannot be denied that working beyond the standard shift of 8 hours increases healthcare errors, fatigue in nurses, and adverse outcomes and events that decreases the productivity of the nurses.

This article includes a review of current literature on shift work, the definition of shift work, error rates and adverse outcomes related to shift work, health effects on shift workers, shift work effects on older workers, recommended optimal shift length, positive and negative effects of shift work.

Effects of the 12 Hours vs. 8 Hours on the Nurses

Introduction

Nurses experience problems that are because of different problems for instance, psychological, and physical health. This study focuses on the duration of shift and its effects on nurses particularly shift hours in contrast with the more common 8 hour shift. The working day has traditionally lasted for around eight hours. However, by working longer shifts it is possible to compress the working week into fewer days (Fitzpatrick, 2009). Research on 12 hour shifts has, to date, tended to focus on the potential advantages for social and leisure time,'8 and the potential disadvantages of increased fatigue and impaired performance and safety while at work. Little mention has been made of the possible ill health which may occur as a result of working long hours within a shorter week.

Previous research has tended to produce results both for and against the use of 12 hour shifts. Although the primary reason, for the recent popularity of 12 hour shifts seems to be social, even on this issue opinion seems to be divided..Extended shift work are a necessary evil to the emergency medicine. Longer shifts from 8 hours to 12 hours are associated with an increase in use of alcohol in nurses, Unsatisfied and poor performance that automatically affects the patients (Lockley, 2007).

Discussion

More than 70 years later, extended duration work shifts are once again a topic of concern. Although the literature supports extended work shifts, it cannot be denied that shifts beyond the traditional 8 hours have been associated with increased risk of errors, incidents, and accidents. Studies also indicate that extended work hours negatively affect employee health and well-being and result in increased fatigue for shift workers and decreased alertness and ...