Are Extended Work Hours Worth the Risk?
Are Extended Work Hours Worth the Risk?
In a study of 1.3 million German workers' compensation claims, employee injuries increased exponentially after the 9th hour of work and occurred more often in evening- and night-shift workers. A meta-analysis of injury data from several studies of American healthcare workers found employee injury risk was 18% higher during the afternoon/evening shift than the morning/day shift, and 34% higher during the night shift.
Also, the work schedule can affect a person's sleep–wake cycle. Working extended hours can lead to musculoskeletal injuries from prolonged exposure to physical and postural risk factors and insufficient recovery time. What's more, the risk of bloodborne-pathogen exposure for workers increases during the last 2 hours of a 12-hour shift. One study showed needlestick injuries increased significantly in nurses working 12-hour shifts compared to those working 8-hour shifts.
Longer shifts also increase nurse burnout and job dissatisfaction. A 2012 study found that the percentage of nurses reporting burnout and an intent to leave their jobs rose as shift length increased. Nurses working shifts of 10 hours or more were up to 2.5 times more likely than those working shorter shifts to experience burnout and job dissatisfaction and to intend to leave their jobs. The same study showed patient satisfaction declined as the proportion of nurses working more than 13 hours increased.
Employee Injuries
In a study of 1.3 million German workers' compensation claims, employee injuries increased exponentially after the 9th hour of work and occurred more often in evening- and night-shift workers. A meta-analysis of injury data from several studies of American healthcare workers found employee injury risk was 18% higher during the afternoon/evening shift than the morning/day shift, and 34% higher during the night shift.
Also, the work schedule can affect a person's sleep–wake cycle. Working extended hours can lead to musculoskeletal injuries from prolonged exposure to physical and postural risk factors and insufficient recovery time. What's more, the risk of bloodborne-pathogen exposure for workers increases during the last 2 hours of a 12-hour shift. One study showed needlestick injuries increased significantly in nurses working 12-hour shifts compared to those working 8-hour shifts.
Longer shifts also increase nurse burnout and job dissatisfaction. A 2012 study found that the percentage of nurses reporting burnout and an intent to leave their jobs rose as shift length increased. Nurses working shifts of 10 hours or more were up to 2.5 times more likely than those working shorter shifts to experience burnout and job dissatisfaction and to intend to leave their jobs. The same study showed patient satisfaction declined as the proportion of nurses working more than 13 hours increased.
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