Nurse Fatigue Essay

What strategies Can Be Used to Alleviate Nurse Fatigue and Increase Patient Safety?

Toni Naude

Walden University

What strategies Can Be Used to Alleviate Nurse Fatigue and Increase Patient Safety? Who’s responsible for nurse fatigue the nurses or the health care organization and who job is to fix it? The answer to both question is both. Both the health care organization and the nurse is responsible to ensure the health of the nursing staff and the safety of their patients. Fatigue refers to the lack of energy, and feeling exhausted that causes a decrease in physical and/or cognitive functioning. Nurses that work longer hours, overtime, without breaks or lunches are at risk of nurse fatigue. Nurse fatigue can impact an organization in many

In a recent study there were 334 shifts (10 percent) in which nurses reported having no opportunity to sit down for a break or meal period. The rest of the time (2,249 out of 5,211 shifts) nurses reported having the time for a break or meal, but that they were not relieved of patient responsibilities during that time. Hospital staff nurses were completely free of patient care responsibilities during a break or meal period less than half the shifts they worked (2,429 out of 5,221 shifts). On average nurses reported having only 25.7 minutes break during their entire shift. Nurses working the longest hours were least likely to receive appropriate breaks (e.g., 10 minutes every 2 hours and a 30-minute meal period free of patient care responsibilities). (Rogers AE., 2008) Studies have shown that nursing staff can benefit from frequent short breaks and they improve their overall performance and reduce fatigue. It is the health care organization reasonability to ensure the there is enough staffing in order to cover their staff for breaks and still be able to provide patient with the care that they need when the nurse is off the