Fatigue is a common issue experienced by shift work nurses. Prolonged shifts and working overtime are among the issues associated with increased likelihood of patient errors and nursing outcomes that are not positive (Russell et al., 2012). According to the American Nurses Association, one of the best methods of improving nurse health and patient outcomes is looking at the scheduling practices (Kyff, 2007).
In our organization, unhealthy shift patterns are evident and they lead to unnecessary fatigue among nurses. They are characterized by working for four consecutive shifts that take a period of ten hours and having rotational shifts happening within the same period of twenty four hours. In addition, there are scenarios in which nurses have an eight hours shift and rest for eight hours and return again for another eight hours. This is an unhealthy practice. Furthermore, nurses work for too many consecutive hours and also work over time. Moreover, the weekend shifts tend not to be fair for all the employees since there are those who have less weekend shifts than others.
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In order to solve this problem, the organization’s management should implement policies and activities that reduce fatigue and errors through healthy scheduling. One of the ways that can assist in addressing this issue is engaging the nurses during the schedule development process (Russell et al., 2012). This enhances structural empowerment and also promotes a working environment that is healthy. Moreover, involving the nurses in the organization in schedule creation can lead to nurse managers who are effective and healthy.
Having a scheduling rule that puts into consideration the unit and general organization policies is also another way of dealing with the scheduling problem during weekends. The aim of this technique is to prevent a scenario in which certain nurses work for few hours as compared to the others. This can assist in preventing a perception of lack of fairness in scheduling and make everyone equal. By using this approach combined with mathematical formulas that are used in schedule generation easy implementation into scheduling programs that are computerized can be applied in both manager and self - scheduled model (Russell et al., 2012). Rules are important because they give structured direction which ensures that a healthy schedule is created.
Reference
Kyff, J. (2007). Creative Staff Scheduling Models. Gastroenterology Nursing,30 (2), 157. doi:10.1097/01.sga.0000268005.96775.7c
Russell, E., Hawkins, J., & Arnold, K. A. (2012). Guidelines for Successful Self-scheduling on Nursing Units. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration,42 (9), 408-409. doi:10.1097/nna.0b013e3182664dd8
