Effects of Accumulating Work Shifts on Performance-Based Fatigue Using Multiple Strength Measurements in Day and Night Shift Nurses and Aides

Details

• Personal Author:
  Banuelas VK ; Stock MS ; Thompson BJ
• Description:
  Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of accumulating nursing work on maximal and rapid strength characteristics in female nurses and compare these effects in day versus night shift workers. Background: Nurses exhibit among the highest nonfatal injury rates of all occupations, which may be a consequence of long, cumulative work shift schedules. Fatigue may accumulate across multiple shifts and lead to performance impairments, which in turn may be linked to injury risks. Method: Thirty-seven nurses and aides performed isometric strength-based performance testing of three muscle groups, including the knee extensors, knee flexors, and wrist flexors (hand grip), as well as countermovement jumps, at baseline and following exposure to three 12-hour work shifts in a four-day period. Variables included peak torque (PT) and rate of torque development (RTD) from isometric strength testing and jump height and power output. Results: The rigorous work period resulted in significant decreases (-7.2% to -19.2%) in a large majority (8/9) of the isometric strength-based measurements. No differences were noted for the day versus night shift workers except for the RTD at 200 millisecond variable, for which the night shift had greater work-induced decreases than the day shift workers. No changes were observed for jump height or power output. Conclusions: A compressed nursing work schedule resulted in decreases in strength-based performance abilities, being indicative of performance fatigue. Application Compressed work schedules involving long shifts lead to functional declines in nurse performance capacities that may pose risks for both the nurse and patient quality of care. Fatigue management plans are needed to monitor and regulate increased levels of fatigue. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Fatigue Health Personnel Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Shift Work Schedule Women
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Compressed Schedules Exposure Levels Extremities Health Care Personnel Health Care Workers Humans Injuries Muscles Musculoskeletal Injuries Nurses Occupational Health Performance Capability Risk Factors Shift Work Shift Workers Workers Work Schedules

  More +
• ISSN:
  0018-7208
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  346-356
• Volume:
  59
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051098
• Citation:
  Hum Factors 2017 May; 59(3):346-356
• Contact Point Address:
  Brennan J. Thompson, Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, 7000 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322
• Email:
  brennan.thompson@usu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• Performing Organization:
  University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Human Factors
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:db1e6d9b42f8c5b4e7e29589178ee9a5641a46181eda7e03e7bb632e9406f02b6a848f9687b6c781cfba6b96169ef2d5540c8d9a0f0f482864b12602f96bf3b4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211224/cdc_211224_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 164.73 KB ]