About the project
Nurses are the largest group of health professionals, providing vital care 24/7. DHB-based nurses working in acute settings account for approximately 40% of all Registered and Enrolled Nurses.
We recently conducted a 3-year project that aimed to combine new science and your nursing knowledge and expertise to better manage fatigue in New Zealand hospitals. This website features our progress on this project, including publications and outputs. Together we have an opportunity to create positive change!
When it comes to fatigue and shift work, there are three facts you need to know:
- We function best with unrestricted sleep at night.
- Fatigue is impairment caused by not enough sleep, by staying awake too long and by trying to sleep and work in the wrong parts of the circadian body clock cycle.
- Shift work is any work pattern that requires you to be awake when you would normally be asleep, on a day when you’re free to choose your schedule.
All three of these physiological factors can reduce your alertness and ability to perform your job safely, as well as your ability to get home healthy and safe.
Check out our fatigue facts section below for more information.
Fatigue Survey
Our recent 3-year project included a nationwide survey of all Registered and Enrolled Nurses working at least 30 hours per week in a DHB, in 6 practice areas that have a high risk of fatigue. These were: child health including neonatology, cardiac care/intensive care, emergency and trauma, in-patient mental health, medical, and surgical. We have used the survey results to develop tools to manage fatigue in New Zealand hospitals.
Our survey has now closed. Thank you to all nurses who have taken the time to complete the survey! We very much value your contributions and look forward to sharing the results with you as they become available.
You can access our survey findings by clicking the button below.