Determination of Factors Affecting Occupational Fatigue in Shift Working Nurses

Abstract

Purpose:This study aims to determine the occupational fatigue and the factors affecting occupational fatigue in shift working nurses. Methods: This descriptive study was carried out at Harran University Research and Application Hospital between the dates of February-March 2020. The sample of the study consisted of 318 nurses. Introductory information form, which was prepared by the researchers, the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion/Recovery Scale (OFER) and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used as Data Collection tools. Findings: Subscale mean scores were found as follows respectively: 66.84 ± 24.01 for chronic fatigue, 70.03 ± 22.49 for acute fatigue, 40.19 ± 18.91 for recovery and 9.1 3± 3.39 for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. 10.1% of employees have good sleep quality, 89.9% of them have bad sleep quality. Conclusions: It was found that healthcare professional’s quality of sleep, income status, job satisfaction, choosing their profession voluntarily, means of transportation to their workplace, the clinic they work, having a physical or mental complaint, setting aside time for himself/herself and making exercise affect their occupational fatigue. It is suggested to determine and make necessary interventions to minimize the occupational fatigue of nurses that has an important and critical place in the provision of healthcare.