The Impact of Rotating Shifts on Nurse’s Health Working in Public and Private Sector Hospitals of Peshawar

Abstract

Background: Shift work refers to a work schedule that is performed in rotations, typically is divided into morning, evening, and nightshift or a set period of times by which different groups perform their duties accordingly. Little is known about shift work in Pakistan, especially in the Peshawar region. Implication for individual Nurses’ need to care for their own health as well as with patient care. The objective of this study was to identify the effects of shift work on the health of nurses working in public and private hospitals of Peshawar.

Methods: The study design was cross-sectional study. In May 2017, 199 nurses participated in this study by completing a self-administered questionnaire which comprised of demographic data health outcomes after taking consent from the participants in 2 public and 1 private hospital in Peshawar.

Results: The study found that Rotating shifts affect nurses physically as well as psychologically; there is a positive association between shift work and health problems such as sleep disturbances and sleep-related impairment, fatigue, anger, satisfaction with social roles outside of work, and lower cognitive abilities.

Conclusion: Shift work is essential for any organization to provide 24 hours services to the patient. In nursing, shift work is mandatory and required to provide continuous quality care to the patients, but it has some adverse effects on the health of nurses as well as on patient safety.