title: Physiological and behavioural response patterns at work among hospital nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to determine whether hospital nurses are experiencing physiological strain at work by examining their physiological and behavioural response patterns over 12-hour shifts.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Excessive workload for nurses may lead to poor quality of care and high nursing turnover rates. Energy expenditure (EE), heart rate (HR) and work pace (WP) can be used to examine the physiological impact from the workload.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 145 nurses wore monitors for one 12-hour day shift to record HR and WP, which were used to calculate EE. Individual and work-related factors were assessed through questionnaires and work logs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Energy expenditure accumulated over the 12 hours reached the EE level of 8-hour shifts in which individuals work at a moderate physical intensity level. The HR data indicated a moderate cardiac stress level throughout the shifts, despite which WP decreased after 15.00 hours. Inadequate work break and sleep, family care-giving responsibility and aging may challenge work recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing workload of 12-hour shifts has a negative physiological impact on hospital nurses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurse managers need to be aware of the physiological strain experienced by staff nurses, and focus on ensuring sufficient breaks and proper work accommodations for older nurses.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Health Studies, College of Health and Human Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA. jchen2@niu.edu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: L Sue
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Kermit G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Nancy M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Daraiseh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D016272:Occupational Health; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data