Night staff fatigue

Abstract

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout was reported to be prevalent among healthcare staff ( Lancet, 2019 ). Following the pandemic, there has been an increase in staff wellbeing awareness, and the emotional and physical strains felt by the healthcare workforce have been acknowledged and discussed. Associated fatigue risks increasing this burnout prevalence, especially among healthcare assistants that work at night, who are particularly susceptible to fatigue as a result of the opposing circadian rhythm demands (Geiger-Brown et al, 2019). Aim: This survey aimed to: identify what fatigue management strategies have been utilised among night staff in an acute NHS trust; examine the attitudes towards, and culture surrounding, power naps; identify the prevalence of associated risk for patients and staff wellbeing; and identify current barriers to fatigue management. This article aims to utilise the information gathered to make recommendations for optimising fatigue management among night staff within a hospital environment.