Often nursing staff work in facilities that operate around the clock. They are commonly exposed to shift work and long work hours. 75% of nurses working in the hospital setting work twelve-hour shifts (Townsend, 2017). Long work hours may have the benefit of a shorter work week, however they come with significant risks. Long shifts have poor effects on both a nurses physical and mental wellbeing. Nurses excel when providing care to others, but don’t receive the same care. Are the risks worth the convenience?
Physical Effects
Many nurses prefer twelve-hour shifts, but what is it doing to their bodies? Dall’Ora, Ball, Recio-Saucedo and Griffiths (2016) studied the association of nurses’ shift characteristics with sickness absence. It has been …show more content…
The ANA Code of Ethics Provision five states that the nurse owes the duties to take care of herself as she does to others. Provision eight also states that the nurse must be aware of the health concerns of not only her patients, but the population and the world (American Nurses Association (ANA), 2018). An ethical dilemma arises when the nurse’s health is negatively affected due to their work schedule. The nurse is developing health issues that are a direct result from working long hours which means she is not taking care of herself. Provision eight states the nurse must pay attention to health concerns around her, but what about paying attention to the health concerns of herself? If the nurse is not healthy herself, how is she able to care of others that are sick around …show more content…
This research is significant in the amount of shift workers studied and chronic illnesses mentioned. To top it off, women who have long work hours have a 40% increased risk for developing coronary heart disease (Caruso, 2015). Musculoskeletal disorders are also a common health trend in women who work long hours. They have a higher risk of neck, back, shoulder, hip, knee, arm, and hand pain and discomfort (Caruso, 2015). Research validates that long work hours increase health risks and predispose these workers to negative pathologies. Sleep is especially important for people who work long hours to reduce their risks of health
Physical Effects
Many nurses prefer twelve-hour shifts, but what is it doing to their bodies? Dall’Ora, Ball, Recio-Saucedo and Griffiths (2016) studied the association of nurses’ shift characteristics with sickness absence. It has been …show more content…
The ANA Code of Ethics Provision five states that the nurse owes the duties to take care of herself as she does to others. Provision eight also states that the nurse must be aware of the health concerns of not only her patients, but the population and the world (American Nurses Association (ANA), 2018). An ethical dilemma arises when the nurse’s health is negatively affected due to their work schedule. The nurse is developing health issues that are a direct result from working long hours which means she is not taking care of herself. Provision eight states the nurse must pay attention to health concerns around her, but what about paying attention to the health concerns of herself? If the nurse is not healthy herself, how is she able to care of others that are sick around …show more content…
This research is significant in the amount of shift workers studied and chronic illnesses mentioned. To top it off, women who have long work hours have a 40% increased risk for developing coronary heart disease (Caruso, 2015). Musculoskeletal disorders are also a common health trend in women who work long hours. They have a higher risk of neck, back, shoulder, hip, knee, arm, and hand pain and discomfort (Caruso, 2015). Research validates that long work hours increase health risks and predispose these workers to negative pathologies. Sleep is especially important for people who work long hours to reduce their risks of health