Errors during the Night Shift: An Age Management Policy is Needed for Nurses Over 55

Abstract

In the study “Relation between sleep deprivation and nursing errors during the night shift,” conducted on a sample of 3358 nurses, 94.7% of the respondents stated that they perform regular activities during the night shift. 16.8% of the respondents made errors in the last two night shifts, with 59.5% of the cases involving a single error. Sleep deprivation (3-5 hours of sleep within the 24 hours preceding the interview) appears to contribute to a higher frequency of errors. This tendency is particularly pronounced among nurses working in critical care units (23.9%). The number of nights worked also influences the likelihood of making errors, with an error frequency of 20.5%. The propensity to make errors is relatively high among the younger age group (17.2%), decreases in the middle age group (15.8%), and then increases again in the older age group (17.6%). We have concluded that night-time care is exhausting and demanding and can have negative effects on the quality of care provided. Therefore, healthcare organizations should support nurses in the organization of night-time care by investing in strategies for safe and quality night-time care that minimizes the negative impact on nurses’ quality of life and psycho-physical well-being. This includes increasing the number of nursing staff during the night shift. Furthermore, the authors conclude that precise age management strategies supported at the management level are needed to minimize the negative effects of the current situation and to enhance the skills that increase in quantity and quality with work experience, utilizing them as valuable resources within the