The webinar that the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) held on the dire impact excessively long working hours have on nurses and their patients in online and available for viewing on their Facebook page.
This webinar took place on January 25 and was based on the release of the Safe Hours Save Lives report, which revealed a critical need to address nurse fatigue and outlines key recommendations to mitigate fatigue-related risks.
Safe Hours Save Lives outlined key recommendations to reduce fatigue-related risks, including:
- Stopping the practice of mandating nurses to work overtime
- Establishing legislation and regulatory limits on consecutive work hours for nurses
- Adopting international standards for managing risks related to fatigue, including measures such as designated napping spaces, fresh food for nurses on extended or overnight shifts, and providing nurses’ transportation home post-shift
- Employer implementation of formal fatigue risk management programs
This report examined three outcomes of occupational fatigue: risks associated with patient safety, risks of workplace conflicts and lateral violence, and risks posed to nurses’ overall health and well-being.
Researcher Dr. Heather Scott-Marshall, who authored the report, was featured in this webinar. The entire report is available at the CFNU’s website.