Rotas and shift patterns:who should make the decisions? What nurses told us about lack of control over their shifts, and the cost to work-life balance and well-being

摘要

Nearly half of nurses (43%) have no say in their shift patterns and more than one quarter (28%) are unsatisfied with their work-life balance, according to a joint survey by Nursing Standard and the University of Southampton (UoS).The survey reveals that many of the 2,198 nurse respondents have little control over their rotas, whether in relation to length of shifts, shift patterns or time off. Most said they work in hospital, providing direct patient care.There was a disparity between the length and timing of shifts worked by the respondents and what they would prefer to work. More than half of respondents (54%) worked shifts of 12 hours or longer, although that was the preferred shift length for only one third (34%).