Literature Review Shift Work
Introduction
Generally shift work is becoming more predominant as a working agenda in the public sector and during 2005-2006, Work safe Australia (2009) calculated that at least 16% or 1.6 million Australians were engaged in shift work. Subsequently, recent studies outlined by Kantermann et al. (2010) suggest that the health and wellbeing of millions of employee’s are seriously affected by shift work. The impact of shift work can play havoc to various homeostatic mechanisms on individuals, particularly for nurses who are the single largest health professional group regularly engaged in this type of employment (Deori 2012). Studies have also revealed that working long hours and engaging in shift work can negatively impact upon one’s health and wellbeing compared to day workers (Keller 2009). While the literature covers an extensive diversity of such theories, this review will emphasise major themes which emerge recurrently throughout the literature. These themes include adverse health outcomes of shift work such as fatigue, sleep disturbances and decreased attention levels, all of which can be a direct result of performing shift work. The aim of this discussion paper is to present a critical analysis of the current literature relating to the health effects associated with working long hours; particularly older nurse’s involved in shift work. Although the literature will present themes in a variety of contexts, this paper will primarily focus on their application to the disturbance in individual’s circadian rhythm and health outcomes of shift work. Additionally, implications and solutions for practice will be acknowledged and recommendations for research in the future will be deliberated.
Evidence of searching the literature
Evidence of searching the literature consisted of a systematic review of applicable articles printed between 2001 and 2013. The target populations were health care workers employed in shift work. The following databases were used:
Generally shift work is becoming more predominant as a working agenda in the public sector and during 2005-2006, Work safe Australia (2009) calculated that at least 16% or 1.6 million Australians were engaged in shift work. Subsequently, recent studies outlined by Kantermann et al. (2010) suggest that the health and wellbeing of millions of employee’s are seriously affected by shift work. The impact of shift work can play havoc to various homeostatic mechanisms on individuals, particularly for nurses who are the single largest health professional group regularly engaged in this type of employment (Deori 2012). Studies have also revealed that working long hours and engaging in shift work can negatively impact upon one’s health and wellbeing compared to day workers (Keller 2009). While the literature covers an extensive diversity of such theories, this review will emphasise major themes which emerge recurrently throughout the literature. These themes include adverse health outcomes of shift work such as fatigue, sleep disturbances and decreased attention levels, all of which can be a direct result of performing shift work. The aim of this discussion paper is to present a critical analysis of the current literature relating to the health effects associated with working long hours; particularly older nurse’s involved in shift work. Although the literature will present themes in a variety of contexts, this paper will primarily focus on their application to the disturbance in individual’s circadian rhythm and health outcomes of shift work. Additionally, implications and solutions for practice will be acknowledged and recommendations for research in the future will be deliberated.
Evidence of searching the literature
Evidence of searching the literature consisted of a systematic review of applicable articles printed between 2001 and 2013. The target populations were health care workers employed in shift work. The following databases were used: