Methodology of Research Process to Problems in Health Care

Methodology of Research Process to Problems in Health Care

The research conducted in the article, "Shift work in nursing: Is it really a risk factor for nurses' health and patients' safety?" indicated that the traditional conclusion of adverse effects on performance because of rotating shift work was incorrect, although scientific evidence suggests otherwise. The previous evidence suggested a "disruption in biological rhythm, sleep disorders, health problems, diminished performance at work, job dissatisfaction, and social isolation." The non-adaptive nurses in this study were found to be just as effective and safe as the adaptive nurses.

The problem in the article written by Admi, Tzischinsky, Epstein, Herer, and Lavie (2008), is the ability to maintain adequate performance over long work shifts, especially when the work hours include typical nighttime sleeping hours. The concerns raised include patient safety, nurses' health, and absenteeism. According to Admi, et al. (2008), "there is evidence in the scientific literature of the adverse physiological and psychological effects of shift work." The study indicates shift work defined as a rotating eight-hour shift schedules. The importance of this research for health care administrators indicates the need for proper scheduling of nurses given the need for quality 24-hour care delivery to patients.

The goal of the study conducted by Admi, et al. "was to explore and describe the health complaints and sleep patterns of hospital nurses who are working rotating shifts and to examine the impact of shift work on nurse absenteeism and patient safety." Various studies have produced mixed results in research of this subject indicating increased errors due to shift work although after a significant amount of time was given performance seemed to improve indicating that the effects were possibly reversible.

The independent variables of the study included age, gender, and BMI whereas the dependent variables include sleep disorders, medical complaints, and clinical errors. The literature review supports the need for planning and properly scheduling nurses to maximize nurses' performance and health as well as reduce clinical errors. The cohort study design was implemented in this research. There were 738 total nurses included in the research, of which 688 nurses completed the survey and included 589 females and 99 males. The subjects were from a teaching hospital in North Israel, and the study was conducted for one year.

The article held some interesting conclusions in which the original theory was disproved based solely upon the findings