Document Type

Poster

Associated Faculty

Dr. Valerie Herbert

Sponsoring Academic Department

School of Nursing

Publication Date

2025

Abstract/ Summary

A medication error is a preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm. Long shift lengths have been found to lead to increased fatigue and decreased alertness, which in turn has an effect on medication administration and patient safety. This review of literature focused on nurses from a Medical-Surgical floor working an 8-hour shift compared to a 12-hour shift, and the effect on medication errors. A literature review was completed using databases CINAHL and PubMed. Inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed articles from 2019-2025 with key words nurses, shift length, medication errors, burnout, fatigue, medication administration, patient safety, 8-hour shift, and 12-hour shift. Any articles that did not discuss nursing, shift length, or factors contributing to medication errors were excluded. Results indicate that nurses working 12- hour shifts experience a higher frequency of medication errors compared to those working 8- hour shifts due to increased fatigue and less alertness. The literature recommends fatigue monitoring education, staff retention to allow for 8-hour shifts, rest breaks, naps, fatigue risk management programs, and exercise. Based on the literature review, further studies should be conducted to evaluate the impact of 8-hour shifts versus 12-hour shifts on nurse’s fatigue, cognition, and alertness in order to recommend more evidenced-based interventions. The findings from this review supports policy changes related to shift lengths in order to improve patient safety and reduced medication error.

Version

other

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