Since the beginning of nursing, there have been many issues affecting this particular field of study. Some of these issues have been negative while others are positive. Existing problems offer opportunities for debates about matters affecting nurses presently. The current issues help create forums to examine the contradicting views on the demands and difficulties that the nurse’s face, both of which influence the safe and efficient delivery of care to the patient. The debating of current critical issues encourages independent thinking whereby it helps one develop their opinion on these matters. In this paper, the mandatory overtime for nurses is discussed as a current issue that is debated.
Working overtime among nurses is a common practice used to assist with chronic understaffing as well as normal variations in the patient census. The underlining relationship of nurse overtime to adverse patient events is that it contributes to nurses' fatigue and lack of sleep so their alertness and vigilance are impaired in both their regular shift and overtime shift. Mandatory overtime can also lead to the reduction of the nursing staff’s dedication to …show more content…
Whether the shortage is related to an increase in patient acuity or the lack of qualified staff, the end result is the same. This problem is commonly solved by having the available nurses work mandatory overtime. Although there are a few that willingly work extra hours for the pay, most nurses feel stressed and overworked. However, this jeopardizes the quality of services offered by nurses and decreases patient satisfaction. Nurses that work long hours often experience fatigue, poor sleep quality, decreased attentiveness, and lack of alertness. This, in turn, threatens the security of patient care causing a potential increase in medication errors and patient neglect. All these result to poor relationships between nurses, the physicians, and the
Working overtime among nurses is a common practice used to assist with chronic understaffing as well as normal variations in the patient census. The underlining relationship of nurse overtime to adverse patient events is that it contributes to nurses' fatigue and lack of sleep so their alertness and vigilance are impaired in both their regular shift and overtime shift. Mandatory overtime can also lead to the reduction of the nursing staff’s dedication to …show more content…
Whether the shortage is related to an increase in patient acuity or the lack of qualified staff, the end result is the same. This problem is commonly solved by having the available nurses work mandatory overtime. Although there are a few that willingly work extra hours for the pay, most nurses feel stressed and overworked. However, this jeopardizes the quality of services offered by nurses and decreases patient satisfaction. Nurses that work long hours often experience fatigue, poor sleep quality, decreased attentiveness, and lack of alertness. This, in turn, threatens the security of patient care causing a potential increase in medication errors and patient neglect. All these result to poor relationships between nurses, the physicians, and the