Pioneering the 12-hour shift in Australia--implementation and limitations.
Twelve-hour shift rostering offers an alternative to the traditional 8- and 10-hour shifts usually worked in Australian nursing practice. This paper outlines the implementation process involved in introducing 12-hour shifts in a Melbourne hospital intensive care unit. The process was instigated by the nursing staff. After extensive consultation with the union and hospital management, a roster pattern of two 12-hour days, followed by 12-hour night shifts then days off, was introduced. Independent researchers were engaged to evaluate the impact of the 12-hour shifts on staff well-being and work performance. Effects on staff retention, sick leave and inservice education were examined. The researchers found that well-being and work performance were minimally affected by the 12-hour shift roster, while staff retention and sick leave were unaffected. Further, the pattern of 12-hour shifts, which was democratically implemented, was preferred by the nursing staff and did not diminish their well-being and work performance.
Campolo
M
M
Frankston Hospital, Victoria.
Pugh
J
J
Thompson
L
L
Wallace
M
M
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013997:Time Factors; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload