Shift Scheduling and the Effect of Patients Care

Picot Question Paper
Review your problem or issue and the study materials to formulate a PICOT question for your capstone project change proposal. A PICOT question starts with a designated patient population in a particular clinical area and identifies clinical problems or issues that arise from clinical care. The intervention used to address the problem must be a nursing practice intervention. Include a comparison of the nursing intervention to a patient population not currently receiving the nursing intervention, and specify the timeframe needed to implement the change process. Formulate a PICOT question using the PICOT format (provided in the assigned readings) that addresses the clinical nursing problem.
The PICOT question will provide a framework for your capstone project change proposal.
In a paper of 500-750 words, clearly identify the clinical problem and how it can result in a positive patient outcome.
Describe the problem in the PICOT question as it relates to the following:
1. Evidence-based solution
2. Nursing intervention
3. Patient care
4. Health care agency
5. Nursing practice
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

ANSWER

Shift Scheduling and Effect on Patient Care

The Clinical Problem

Nursing staff within the facilities that work around the clock have been commonly exposed to long work hours and shift work. The long working hours and the demanding schedules have led to sleeping difficulties. The sleep disorders have resulted in poor quality care, increased medical errors, high turnover rates, and sick absence (Stimpfel, Fatehi, and Kovner, 2020). Therefore, sleep deprivation due to long working hours impairs the nurse’s ability to respond to the patient’s care needs. Nurses that have had more than thirteen hours have the highest risk of poor patient care outcomes compared to shorter shift lengths. Shift scheduling can result in a positive patient outcome since this will lead to reduced medical errors, improved nurse performance, and reduced turnover rates.

PICOT Question

P (Population of focus) – Nurses in acute care hospitals

I (Intervention) – Shift scheduling

C (Compared) – Long hour shift

O (Outcome) – Improving patient care

T (Time) – The time of hospitalization

Describe the problem in the PICOT question as it relates to the following: In nurses working in acute hospitals, how does shift scheduling compared to long hour shift help improve patient care during the time of hospitalization?

Evidence-based solution

Long working hours lead to nurse fatigue owing to inadequate sleep, which affects alertness and affect quality care provision. Nurses have shown that shorter sleep hours, longer sleep latency, and lower sleep efficiency before night shifts have reduced alertness. Research on the issue of long working hours has demonstrated the safety and health risks of long work hours, sleep problems, overtime work, and fatigue. The current COVID-19 pandemic has increased nurses’ risk of long working hours (Dall’Ora and Dahlgren, 2020). This has highlighted the need for better alternatives and solutions on scheduling work 24/7 during times of extreme workload. The work time solutions will require more knowledge on how shift scheduling can be done more effectively.

Nursing intervention

Shift scheduling is a significant intervention since it focuses on the scheduling of the nursing workforce to reduce long working hours that lead to fatigue and medical errors that impact the quality of patient care. Shift scheduling requires balancing service requirements with cost-effectiveness and fairness. Poor scheduling leads to long working hours, fatigue, and absenteeism which adversely affects the quality of patient care. Therefore, there is a need for appropriate shift scheduling that can reduce fatigue, mistakes and increase the standards of patient care.

Patient Care

Extended work shifts of twelve hours and above have been common among hospital staff nurses. These long work shifts have influenced the quality of patient care and increased patient dissatisfaction. The long working hours have undermined the well-being of nurses, thus leading to high turnover, which negatively impacts patient care. Therefore, the shift schedule will improve patient care due to high nurse performance and morale.

Health care agency

The healthcare agency is responsible for the overall well-being and health of the community. The main focus of the healthcare agency is the wellness and general health of the members of the community. The nurses play a great role in the health and well-being of the community since they help the doctors in creating care plans and treatment administration. Therefore, the healthcare agency should advocate for a suitable working environment for the nurses through the shift schedule to improve their performance in maintaining and restoring health.

Nursing practice

Long shifts that rotate between day and night duty lead to a risk of burnout and fatigue among nurses, which may compromise patient care. Nurses working long hours have adversely impacted the quality of nursing care, job satisfaction, and patient safety (Stimpfel, Sloane, and Aiken, 2012). Therefore, the shift schedule will play an essential role in the nursing practice since it will reduce fatigue and burnout and increase nurse morale and satisfaction, which will also boost the care outcomes.

References

Dall’Ora, C., & Dahlgren, A. (2020). Shift work in nursing: closing the knowledge gaps and advancing innovation in practice. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 112, 103743.

Stimpfel, A. W., Fatehi, F., & Kovner, C. (2020). Nurses’ sleep, work hours, patient care quality, and safety. Sleep Health, 6(3), 314-320.

Stimpfel, A. W., Sloane, D. M., & Aiken, L. H. (2012). The longer the shifts for hospital nurses, the higher the levels of burnout and patient dissatisfaction. Health Affairs, 31(11), 2501-2509.