Is Patient Care Affected By Long Shifts?

It’s no secret that long shifts are hard on the nurses and doctors who endure them. Not only do overworked medical staffs suffer higher rates of illness, but they are also more likely to report feelings of stress and depression and tend to burn out more frequently. While these issues are serious for the health professionals who deal with them daily, the greatest threat resulting from overworked medical staffs may actually be to the patients they treat. In fact, many studies suggest that patient care is negatively affected when health employees work shifts lasting 12 hours or more.

What the Studies Say

According to a study conducted by the ANA and published in the journal Health Affairs, long hours can have a profoundly negative effect on patient care and safety. After examining the performance of almost 400 nurses across more than 5,300 shifts, the authors found that nurses who worked 12.5 hour shifts or longer were three times more likely to make mistakes on the job than their peers. These errors ranged from small charting slips to large mistakes involving procedures. Further, over 50 percent of the blunders involved the incorrect administration of medicine.

This study isn’t the only one of its kind. On the contrary, researchers in 2014 found similar data when evaluating medication errors through the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System. Of the 1,600 mistakes and near mistakes analyzed, a whopping 89 percent resulted from healthcare workers being tired and overworked. Even worse, 37 patients in the study suffered serious side effects with four tragically losing their lives due to medical error.

Sadly, there’s no way of avoiding every mistake that occurs in a medical setting. However, by arranging for employees to work shorter shifts, facilities may be able to alleviate this problem substantially.

Contact Here’s Help for Expert Staffing Assistance

The recruitment leader in the Hudson Valley, Here’s Help works with local businesses to help them find great employees and retain them for the long haul. From performing thorough background checks to helping with your on-site management needs, Here’s Help can give your healthcare business a leading edge on the competition. To speak to one of our experts, call today or contact our client staffing services team online.

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