The Institute of Medicine Report includes long work hours and related fatigue among nurses as one of the most serious threats to patient safety. In a survey of over 800 nurses, 72% reported exhaustion. Nurses have gone to work tired and returned tired to care for patients the next day, not recognizing how they are jeopardizing their health and the safety of patients. Fatigue can have an adverse effect on quality of life and may contribute to medical errors. Recent research linking long work hours and fatigue to the likelihood of nurses making errors or near errors has heightened the awareness of the potential negative effects of nurse fatigue.

The Administrator for Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) sought to identify the possible antecedents and consequences of fatigue in nurses at MUSC. A fatigue structural equation model and a web based Nurse Fatigue Questionnaire were developed and tested on a randomized sample of nurses at MUSC including nurses who work in the endoscopy unit and gastroenterology clinic. This presentation will highlight the results of this study.

Section Description

We are pleased to present the abstracts from SGNA's 34th Annual Course, Charting a Course for Professional Growth. The diversity of these topics certainly reflects the richness and breadth of our specialty. In keeping with the tradition of the Annual Course, we hope the following abstracts will encourage discussions for improving nursing practice and patient care outcomes.