Twelve-hour shifts: helpful or hazardous to patients?
This paper explores nursing shift patterns in the light of certain recently published reports and in particular the introduction and use of the 12-hour shift. It includes the personal observations of one nurse who recently changed to 12-hour shifts. Several central questions are raised and need to be answered before moves towards changes in staff deployment should be entertained.
Northcott
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Facey
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D006801:Humans; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance