Shift work characteristics and burnout among nurses: cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background: Nurses working long shifts (≥12 h) experience higher levels of burnout. Yet other shift characteristics, including fixed versus rotating night work, weekly hours and breaks have not been considered. Choice over shift length may moderate the relationship; however, this has not been tested.

Aims: To examine the association between shift work characteristics and burnout and exhaustion, and whether choice over shift length influences burnout and exhaustion.

Methods: Cross-sectional online survey of nursing staff working in the UK and Ireland. We recruited two large National Health Service Trusts, through trade union membership, online/print nursing magazines and social media. We assessed associations using both univariable and multivariable generalized linear models.

Results: We had 873 valid responses. Reports of inadequate staffing levels (odds ratio [OR] = 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.08-3.90) and less choice over shift length (OR = 0.20; 95% CI 0.06-0.54) were associated with higher burnout in multivariable models. Similar associations were found for exhaustion, where rarely or never taking breaks was also a predictor (OR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.05-2.52). Nurses who worked long shifts had less choice than those working shifts of 8 h or less (66% of 12-h shift nurses versus 44% 8-h shift nurses reporting having no choice), but choice did not moderate the relationship between shift length and burnout and exhaustion.

Conclusions: The relationship between long shifts and increased burnout reported previously might have arisen from a lack of choice for those staff working long shifts. Whether limited choice for staff is intrinsically linked to long shifts is unclear.