Evaluation of an open-rota system in a Danish psychiatric hospital: a mechanism for improving job satisfaction and work-life balance.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of an open-rota scheduling system on the health, work-life balance and job satisfaction of nurses working in a psychiatric ward in Denmark.


BACKGROUND
The effects of shift rotation and scheduling are well known; however, little is known about the wider benefits of open-rota systems. Method A structured questionnaire was distributed to control and intervention groups preintervention and postintervention (20 months). Nurses within the intervention group trialed an open-rota system in which nurses designed their own work-rest schedules.


RESULTS
Nurses in the intervention group reported that they were more satisfied with their work hours, less likely to swap their shift when working within the open-rota system and reported significant increases in work-life balance, job satisfaction, social support and community spirit when compared with nurses in the control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The ownership and choice over work-rest schedules has benefits for nurses, and potentially the hospital.
Pryce
Joanna
J
Occupational Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK. j.pryce@gold.ac.uk
Albertsen
Karen
K
Nielsen
Karina
K
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D016272:Occupational Health; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload