Perceptions and observations of off-shift nursing

  1. PAMELA B. DE CORDOVA PhD, RN-BC1,
  2. CIARAN S. PHIBBS PhD2,
  3. PATRICIA W. STONE PhD, FAAN3

Article first published online: 10 JUL 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2012.01417.x

Issue

Journal of Nursing Management

Journal of Nursing Management

Special Issue: This issue: Patient safety management in the health services Issue editor: Elisabeth Severinsson

Volume 21, Issue 2, pages 283–292, March 2013

Additional Information

How to Cite

DE CORDOVA, P. B., PHIBBS, C. S. and STONE, P. W. (2013), Perceptions and observations of off-shift nursing. Journal of Nursing Management, 21: 283–292. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2012.01417.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Post-Doctoral Fellow, Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA

  2. 2

    Health Economist, Health Economics Resource Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Menlo Park, CA, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA

  3. 3

    Centennial Professor in Health Policy, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY, USA

* Pamela B. de Cordova University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research 418 Curie Boulevard, 383R Philadelphia PA 19104-4217 USA E-mail; beckerp@nursing.upenn.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 MAR 2013
  2. Article first published online: 10 JUL 2012
  3. Accepted for publication: 22 February 2012

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article with Supporting Information (HTML) Get PDF (95K)

Keywords:

  • content analysis;
  • nurse perceptions;
  • off-shifts;
  • quality care

Aim  The purpose of this paper is to qualitatively explore registered nurse perceptions of off-shift (e.g. nights and weekends) nursing care and quality compared with regular hours.

Background  Patients admitted to hospitals on off-shifts have worse outcomes than patients admitted on more regular hours. The underlying mechanism for this association is not well understood.

Methods  In-depth semi-structured interviews of 23 registered nurses and four observer-as-participant observations were conducted on both medical–surgical and intensive care units in two large (>850 beds) tertiary hospitals. Content analysis was used to identify themes.

Results  Six themes emerged: (1) collaboration among self-reliant night nurses; (2) completing tasks; (3) taking a breather on weekend day shift; (4) new nurse requirement to work at night; (5) mixture of registered nurse personnel; and (6) night nurse perception of under-appreciation.

Conclusions  Although nurses collaborate, complete more tasks and work with other types of registered nurses, the decreased resources available on off-shifts may affect quality care delivered in hospitals.

Implications for nursing management  These findings support the importance of management to provide sufficient resources in terms of ancillary personnel and balance less experienced staff. Facilitating communication between night and day nurses may help allay night nurses’ feelings of under-appreciation.

View Full Article with Supporting Information (HTML) Get PDF (95K)