Psychosocial working conditions of shiftworking nurses: A long-term latent transition analysis.

Ann Rudman,Aleksandra Bujacz,Philip Tucker,Petter Gustavsson,Anna Dahlgren

doi:10.1111/jonm.13430

Abstract

This study aimed to identify profiles of working conditions to which nurses were exposed to over time and investigate how changes in working conditions relate to shiftworking and health. Previous studies rarely addressed the issue of working conditions development over long periods and the effects of such development on nurses' health. Data from a national cohort of nurses in Sweden (N = 2936) were analysed using a person-centred analytical approach-latent profile and latent transition analysis. Nurses report better psychosocial working conditions as they progress into mid-career. Shiftworking nurses experience poorer working conditions than their dayworking counterparts and tend to move from shiftwork to daywork as they progress into mid-career. In mid-career, nurses in work environments characterized by low autonomy and support tend to report poorer health outcomes. Current analyses suggest that shiftworking nurses are particularly in need of interventions that address poor work environments. Not only do they experience more negative psychosocial working conditions than their dayworking counterparts, but they do so while having to contend with demanding schedules. The findings highlight that organisational interventions should target different aspects of the work environment for nurses in diverse stages of their careers.

Highlights

The current shortage of nurses exposes the need to promote healthy work environments that enable nurses to thrive throughout their careers (World Health Organization [WHO], 2006)
The analysis focuses on associations between psychosocial working conditions, shift work status and two indices of health, namely, burnout and sleep disturbance
The current analyses suggest that shiftworking nurses are in need of measures that address poor work environments

Summary

Introduction

The current shortage of nurses exposes the need to promote healthy work environments that enable nurses to thrive throughout their careers (World Health Organization [WHO], 2006). We need to understand what types of work environment allow nurses. To thrive and develop at work over many years and thereby promote better patient outcomes (Duffield et al, 2011). The effects of working conditions on workers’ health, and turnover, were estimated during relatively short time periods ranging from several months to a maximum of 5 years (Aronsson et al, 2017). The current study examines the development of working conditions in a large cohort of nurses up to 15 years after graduation. The analysis focuses on associations between psychosocial working conditions, shift work status and two indices of health, namely, burnout and sleep disturbance

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Discussion

Conclusion