Study: Hospitals should address challenges night shift nurses face

Hospitals must address night shift nurses’ concerns to preserve their health and well-being, reduce turnover and ensure safer, high-quality care, concludes a study in the American Journal of Nursing’s July issue. Nurse leaders should establish night councils, make taking scheduled breaks the norm and encourage open communication about fatigue. Scheduling meetings and trainings during night shifts and providing education on fatigue management and sleep hygiene is also helpful. The authors also provide recommendations for hospital executives, policymakers and professional organizations. AONL member Susan Weaver, PhD, RN, nurse scientist, Hackensack Meridian Health, Tinton Falls, N.J., and colleagues surveyed 856 night shift nurses at 12 hospitals and used focus groups comprised of 91 nurses at six hospitals to understand night shift nurse perspectives on the challenges they face and gain ideas for improvement.