Can Nurses Self-Assess Fatigue?: Implications for Nurse Leaders.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to describe nurses' self-perceptions of fatigue and to examine nurses' acceptance of specific fatigue countermeasures. BACKGROUND: The work of nurses places them at a high risk of fatigue. Evidence suggests 75% to 80% of nurses in the United States experience high levels of fatigue. METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional correlational study surveyed 279 nurses. RESULTS: Results suggest that almost half of nurses (46%) are not able to accurately self-assess fatigue. Nurses expressed acceptance of several workplace fatigue reduction strategies. CONCLUSIONS: It may be unrealistic to expect nurses to self-assess fatigue levels and make decisions about their ability to safely provide patient care. Reliable methods for assessing fatigue in the workplace are needed. Several strategies exist that may be used to alleviate fatigue, and many were acceptable to nurses. Nurse leaders are well positioned to implement changes that impact the occurrence of nurse fatigue and thereby the quality of patient care.

An Examination of Work Characteristics, Fatigue, and Recovery Among Acute Care Nurses.

OBJECTIVE: To examine self-perceived fatigue among nurses and to quantify levels of fatigue and the ability to recover from fatigue between worked shifts across various work characteristics. BACKGROUND: Fatigue is associated with working long hours, disruption of sleep, and inadequate time to recover between shifts. Fatigue degrades the nurses' performance leading to poorer patient outcomes and increased occupational injuries. METHODS: This quantitative study surveyed 573 nurses across 5 hospitals in the southeastern United States. RESULTS: Significant levels of acute fatigue were associated with working labor and delivery and medical-surgical units and working a 12-hour shift. Nurses working night shift and on the behavioral health unit showed a significantly lower ability to recover between worked shifts. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue threatens safety and the quality of patient care. Leaders should ensure that nurses take duty-free breaks and schedule adequate time off to recover between worked shifts.