Background Several research studies confirm fatigue impairs human performance. Fatigue directly affects care quality and safety. Nurses who work long hours experience fatigue. On-duty napping could ..
Background Several research studies confirm fatigue impairs human performance. Fatigue directly affects care quality and safety. Nurses who work long hours experience fatigue. On-duty napping could mitigate the effects of fatigue from extended work hours and night shift work. Fatigue countermeasures such as napping are not routinely used by nurses. In fact, at times nurses do not even take a break. Since napping improves psychomotor performance, brain function, and alertness, encouraging on-duty napping could decrease fatigue severity resulting in greater wellness and safety. Purpose To conduct a pilot project with night nurses determining the effect of no break, a work break without napping, or napping during a work break on fatigue severity. Implementation Plan Presentations on the value of napping resulted in project approval from the Executive Vice-President, Chief Nursing Officer, Human Resource (HR) Administration, Nursing Directors, and Managers. Twelve nurses meeting inclusion criteria in two critical care units volunteered to participate. Work rules were finalized with HR and articulated to staff. Participants were asked to view an educational program by the CDC, “Napping as an Important Fatigue Countermeasure”. For two months at the end of each night shift, nurses are declaring if they napped, took a break, or had no break. They also are completing an 18 question Visual Analogue Scale to Evaluate Fatigue Severity (VAS-F). Outcomes The project is currently in the first month of the two-month data collection. Fatigue severity will be measured. Analysis will determine any statistical difference in fatigue severity based on no break, a work break without napping, and napping. Implications for Practice This pilot study and its approval process encourages nurses to take a break and nap, if possible, to mitigate the effects of fatigue thereby enhancing wellness and patient care. Day shift nurses have already asked if they could nap too.
Cluster A, Matthies K, Schleder B. Waking up to safety: Napping as a fatigue countermeasure. Quality Improvement poster presentation at Empowering Nursing Excellence: Recognizing the Value and Impact ..
Cluster A, Matthies K, Schleder B. Waking up to safety: Napping as a fatigue countermeasure. Quality Improvement poster presentation at Empowering Nursing Excellence: Recognizing the Value and Impact of Nurses, Advocate Health Midwest Region Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference 2023; November 15, 2023; virtual.