Employees in any organization put in hours to ensure they achieve the organization's goals. Some workers in some organizations put in more hours than others for instance nurses in hospitals have long shifts which last for an average of 12hours. Long shifts have had effects on them, their performance and as such affecting the health outcomes of the patients they are serving. Long shifts have also resulted in burning out among the nurses consequently leading to complaints from the patients due to negligence and poor performance. Longer shifts have also been associated with job dissatisfaction which consequently leads to exit from the profession by some nurses (Stimpfel, Sloane, & Aiken, 2013).
Research has shown that long shifts among the nurses are detrimental effects to them and their work. Some health facilities have arrangements that a nurse does a long shift of 12 hours or more and gets leave the following day. In light of this, the nurse will only work for like three days in a week. However, due to the unpredictable nature of the nursing job, a nurse may be called into work on her leave day. Such scenarios will lead to building up of fatigue and irregular sleep patterns hence poor performance (Rhéaume & Mullen, 2017). It is important that the nurse is well rested given the nature of their work, being alert for them is mandatory.
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Health information technology can be used to improve the work of a healthcare worker. Improved scheduling can be done using available software to ensure no overlapping and that proper schedules are done. Overlapping shifts would be avoided, and the nurses would be well rested before their shifts. Schedules also allow for prior planning and this way nurses know and can plan for their work and prepare in advance. Schedules also will ensure that there are enough nurses for the anticipated work and as such the available nurses will not be overworked (Galic, 2017).
References
Galic, D. (2017). Nurse Scheduling Software: How to Keep Nurses Safe and Satisfied. Humanity. Retrieved December from https://www.humanity.com/blog/better-scheduling-can-keep-nurses-safe-satisfied.html
Rhéaume, A., Mullen, J. (2017). The impact of long work hours and shift work on cognitive errors in nurses. J Nurs Manag. 26 (1), 26-32. doi: 10.1111/jonm.12513.
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 Aff (Millwood). 31 (11):2501-9. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2011.1377.
