Pros and cons of quick returns—a cross-sectional survey among Swedish nurses and nurse assistants

Abstract

Short rest (<11h) between evening and day shifts -known as quick returns (QRs)impede recovery and may impair health. Nevertheless, QRs remain popular among some shift workers. This study explores nurses' and nursing assistants' perceptions of the merits and demerits of QRs from individual and organizational perspectives. Participants were recruited from eleven wards at two Swedish hospitals as part of a larger quasi-experimental intervention study. The majority (79%) had influence over their work schedules. Frequency distributions of responses are presented. Ninety six undertook a baseline survey regarding recovery, tolerance and work performance in relation to QRs. A majority experienced difficulties unwinding before bedtime (76%), insufficient sleep (80%), and daytime fatigue (72%). A third experienced an increased risk of errors and mistakes. However, QRs appeared to facilitate taking reports from patients and planning work, as this task was more often rated as 'very easy' following a QR compared to other shift combinations. Tolerance of QRs varied substantially. In conclusion, QRs seem to benefit continuity in work processes, but may do so at the expense of recovery and safety. Wards planning to reduce QRs -through participatory or fixed schedule models -should consider impacts on work processes.

Managing Sustainable Working Hours within Participatory Working Time Scheduling for Nurses and Assistant Nurses: A Qualitative Interview Study with Managers and Staffing Assistants

“…Te results also demonstrated that working hours are highly intertwined with contextual factors, such as the work procedures on the wards (organisational factor). For example, consistent with previous fndings [57], quick returns were believed to facilitate work on the morning shift, leading some individuals to prefer those shift combinations. Tus, the way in which work procedures are organised can infuence preferences for certain shift combinations, while the removal of certain shift combinations may hinder work procedures and diminish employees' satisfaction.…”