Abstract

We are anticipating a heightened shortage of nurses as our aging population retires. A shortage of workers tends to lead to overtime for those still in the work force. Previous research has demonstrated a link between working long hours, fatigue, and decreased performance among nurses. Fatigue has specifically been linked to on the job injuries and poorer patient outcomes. This research study examined perceived fatigue among nurses in western North Carolina. A convenience sample of nurses from five hospitals in western North Carolina was surveyed to measure fatigue, as well as compare differences in reported fatigue across varying demographic groups. Study participants totaled 610 and represented a widely heterogeneous group of nurses. Results point to an overall presence of fatigue among nurses in the study. Nurses working 12-hour shifts report the highest levels of fatigue. This is consistent with other studies of fatigue among nurses. Additionally, nurses in the study working night shift report the least ability to recover between shifts. These results raise concerns regarding safe, high quality patient care since so many nurses are working 12-hour shifts in hospitals today.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 1563247; ProQuest document ID: 1571299608. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Karen R. Cochran, PhD, RN, CNOR

Sigma Membership

Eta Psi

Type

Thesis

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Descriptive/Correlational

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Fatigue, Nurse Retention, Decreased Performance, Occupational Fatigue, Nursing Shortage

Advisors

Rome, Candice

Degree

Master's

Degree Grantor

Gardner-Webb University

Degree Year

2014

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2021-11-15

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