NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Hospital staff nurses' work hours, meal periods, and rest breaks. A review from an occupational health nurse perspective.

Witkoski A; Dickson VV

AAOHN J 2010 Nov; 58(11):489-499

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/216507991005801106

20038085

Registered nurses are the largest group of health care providers in the United States. To provide 24-hour care, hospital staff nurses often work long hours and consecutive shifts, without adequate meal or rest breaks. Serious declines in functioning related to provider fatigue can lead to safety issues for patients and nurses alike. The occupational health nurse can assess the effects of nurses' work hours and break periods on employee health, educate staff on the importance of sleep and deleterious effects of fatigue, and implement programs to improve the work environment. This article examines nurses' work hours, break and meal period laws and regulations, and the role of the occupational health nurse in caring for this group of employees. Overall findings suggest that the expertise of an occupational health nurse in the hospital setting could significantly improve the health and safety of staff nurses.

Nurses; Nursing; Work-analysis; Work-intervals; Shift-work; Shift-workers; Health-care-personnel; Rest-periods; Occupational-health-nursing; Job-stress; Nutrition; Work-performance; Worker-health; Fatigue; Safety-measures; Sleep-deprivation; Education; Work-organization

Amy Witkoski, MS, RN, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Claire M. Fagin Hall, 418 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104

AAJOEP

20101101

Journal Article

amywit@nursing.upenn.edu

Grant

2011

Grant-Number-T01-OH-008417

11

0891-0162

AAOHN Journal - American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Journal

PA

University of Pennsylvania