Nurse Fatigue White Paper-Nurse Fatigue White Paper

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This white paper discusses the issue of nurse fatigue, particularly in emergency nursing. It defines fatigue as physical and/or mental exhaustion caused by various factors such as stress, overwork, and illness. The paper highlights the unique challenges faced by emergency nurses, including constant change, increased patient acuity, and unpredictable patient flow. It also discusses the effects of extended work hours and the culture that promotes it, which can result in increased risks for fatigue, burnout, and compassion fatigue. <br /><br />The paper recognizes the limited research on fatigue specifically in emergency nursing and suggests the need for more studies in this area. It emphasizes the importance of creating a positive and safe work environment for nurses in order to provide safe care for patients. The paper highlights the impact of fatigue on decision-making, reaction time, and critical thinking, as well as its negative effects on physical and mental well-being. It also discusses the consequences of fatigue on patient safety, including medication errors and decreased attention to detail. <br /><br />The paper provides recommendations for various stakeholders, including nurse executives, nurse managers, and staff nurses, to address and mitigate the effects of fatigue. It suggests assessing and addressing organizational fatigue-related risks, developing alertness management programs, evaluating patient hand-off processes, involving staff in designing work schedules, and providing education on sleep hygiene and fatigue. It also encourages the creation of a culture that allows nurses to refuse overtime without retribution and promote job satisfaction and work/life balance. The paper highlights the need for further research on the effects of shift length, fatigue, and work environment on patient safety and nurse well-being.

Meta Tag

nurse fatigue compassion

nurse fatigue burnout

nurse fatigue turnover

nurse fatigue stress

nurse fatigue nurse wellness

Keywords

nurse fatigue

emergency nursing

stress

patient acuity

burnout

compassion fatigue

patient safety

medication errors

work/life balance

research