Jornadas de trabalho na enfermagem: entre necessidades individuais e condições de trabalho

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To assess factors associated with professional and total hours of work (work + home) among nursing staff. METHODS:Cross-sectional study conducted in a university hospital in the city of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, between 2004 and2005. A total of 696 workers (nurses, nurse technicians and aids), mostly women (87.8%) working day and/or night shifts, participated in the study. A selfadministered questionnaire was used to collected information on demographic characteristics, and working and life conditions. Translated and adapted into Portuguese versions of the Job Stress Scale, Effort-reward imbalance, ShortForm-Health-related quality of life and the Work Ability Index were also administered. Logistic regression models were used for data analysis. RESULTS:Sole breadwinner, working night shifts and effort-reward imbalance were the variables associated with both professional (OR = 3.38, OR = 10.43, OR = 2.07, respectively) and total hours of work (OR = 1.57, OR = 3.37, OR = 2.75, respectively). There was no signifi cant association between the variables related to hours of work and low Work Ability Index. Inadequate rest at home was statistically associated with professional (OR = 2.47) and total hours of work (OR = 1.48). Inadequate leisure time was signifi cantly associated with professional hours of work (OR = 1.58) and barely associated with total hours of work (OR = 1.43). CONCLUSIONS:The sole breadwinner, working night shifts and effortreward imbalance are variables that need to be further investigated in studies on work hours among nursing staff. These studies should explore workers' income and the relationship between effort and reward, taking into consideration gender issues.

Working hours and health behaviour among nurses at public hospitals

“…Together with these factors, the prevalence of females in these professions (1,3,8) means a need to also weigh in the domestic workload and also its interaction with professional employment when assessing the impact that the working hours have on health, as shown in other studies (3,5,8) . However, when considering the work within the context of the nursing profession, it is important to stress that the influence of the long working hours affects not only the health of the nursing professionals but also the standard of the nursing care (1) .…”

“…Among the transformations that have occurred over the last few decades in the labour market, we mention the increase in the number of hours worked, a phenomenon that has been observed in several countries (1)(2) . The long working hours have a negative effect both on professional life and also on the social and family life of the individuals affected (1,3) .…”

“…The long working hours have a negative effect both on professional life and also on the social and family life of the individuals affected (1,3) . Difficulties in social relationships and personal activities (1,3) , as also the lack of time for leisure pursuits and health care, are often mentioned as being related to long working hours (1,(3)(4) .…”

“…The long working hours have a negative effect both on professional life and also on the social and family life of the individuals affected (1,3) . Difficulties in social relationships and personal activities (1,3) , as also the lack of time for leisure pursuits and health care, are often mentioned as being related to long working hours (1,(3)(4) . Thus, long working hours have been associated to several illnesses and symptoms, including bouts of depression, high blood pressure, muscular and skeletal problems, gastrointestinal disorders, stress and fatigue (4)(5) , and have also been linked to behaviour patterns that are inappropriate for good health, such as a greater consumption of alcohol, cigarette smoking, reduction in the quantity of physical exercise, and an inadequate standard of sleep or other sleep disorders (5)(6) .…”

Stress among nurses: an examination of salivary cortisol levels on work and day off

“…The use of salivary cortisol as a stress biomarker is irrefutable (5) . However, a detailed analysis of working conditions and individual needs is required (30) , as is the use of other assessment tools such as the identification of stressors during nurses' working hours, (7) because stress perception is unique, and different individuals can experience the same stressors differently.…”