12-hour shifts linked to job dissatisfaction, burnout

Though 12-hour shifts have become common for nurses, there is still concern that long shifts adversely affect well-being and job satisfaction.

The aim of this study, which included researchers from the University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Inselspital Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; and the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, was to examine the association between working long shifts and adverse outcomes for nurses. The study included nearly 32,000 nurses in 12 European countries.

Nurses working shifts of 12 hours or longer were more likely to report burnout (in terms of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment), job dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction with work schedule flexibility, and intention to leave their current job.

Some of the adverse outcomes, such as high burnout, may pose safety risks for patients as well as the nurses, the authors say.

—Dall’Ora C, Griffiths P, Ball J, et al. Association of 12 h shifts and nurses’ job satisfaction, burnout and intention to leave: Findings from a cross-sectional study of 12 European countries. BMJ Open. Published online August 23, 2015.

http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/9/e008331.full