OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the structural, organizational, and environmental factors associated with the implementation a fatigue countermeasures program for nurses (FCMPN).
BACKGROUND: The industrial sector has developed fatigue management programs to improve safety for employees and customers. However, fatigue management programs have not been developed for nurses.
METHODS: The oral descriptions of 46 staff nurses and 8 nurse managers participating in an FCMPN were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed.
RESULTS: Staff nurses identified awareness, restfulness, and lifestyle control as FCMPN benefits, whereas challenges included work culture, physical environment, and emotional turmoil. Nurse managers perceived ease of program implementation, employee-employer partnerships, and research engagement as benefits. Challenges included lack of support, nursing/organizational culture, and dissonance in staff levels and organizational policies.
CONCLUSION: Although FCMPNs are feasible and sustainable in healthcare, a paradigm shift may be needed for a robust implementation of an effective FCMPN that improves patient safety.
}, year = {2010}, journal = {J Nurs Adm}, volume = {40}, pages = {233-40}, month = {05/2010}, issn = {1539-0721}, doi = {10.1097/NNA.0b013e3181da4078}, language = {eng}, }