Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
sleep deprivation, nursing errors, hospital setting
College
Nursing
Abstract
The current state of health care in America presents some difficult problems with its increased need for nurses along with a significant nursing shortage. There is an approaching aging baby-boomer population along with an aging nurse population resulting in increased nurse workloads and fewer nurses to manage them. Many nurses work longer hours with more patients and pick up extra shifts to make up for the decreased employees. Their sleep is what suffers. As a young nursing student, I began to see and experience for myself the effects of fatigue on nursing care during long 12-hour shifts. I became incredulous whether this was the best schedule for nurses trying to give optimal care, and also whether the existing shifts were aligned with current medical research on the effects of sleep deprivation on mental clarity.
Recommended Citation
O'Reilly, Whitney L. and Coverston, Catherine
(2013)
"Sleep Deprivation and Subsequent Nursing Errors in the Hospital Setting,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 1619.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1619