Nursing shift patterns: why consistency is key to job satisfaction
Posted 16 February 2024 - 13:40
Predictable rosters and sensitively spaced days off are good for staff retention, morale, and work-life balance – but nurse opinion is divided on length of shifts, study finds
Nurses working shorter day shifts with a consistent rota pattern are more satisfied and likely to stay in their jobs, a study found.
Researchers at the University of Southampton found that 50% of respondents were happy with their roster pattern, with 68% saying their shifts are mostly or completely determined by their employer.
The survey of 873 nurses in two NHS trusts and nursing union members examined shift length, time, rotation, rest and days off. It found staff felt more satisfied if they had at least six weeks’ notice of rota plans.
The nurses also said they favoured predictable and consistent work patterns because these help them plan family and social commitments.
We don’t want staffing needs to dictate our shift patterns, nurses tell study
Imposition of difficult shift patterns has a knock-on effect on sickness absence and undermines job satisfaction and retention rates, the researchers said, citing increased burnout, disrupted recovery time and poor work-life balance as likely reasons.
‘With the aid of modern rostering software, it may be possible to improve nurses’ well-being and work-life balance without compromising the quality of care’
Professor Peter Griffiths, study co-author
Study co-author Talia Emmanuel said: ‘We compared the everyday reality of ward schedules with the kinds of patterns staff would prefer. Although long and rotating shifts were the least popular, the results weren’t clear-cut. They still held some advantages for certain groups of nurses, suggesting there is room for improvement when it comes to balancing satisfaction with shifts and the everyday needs of wards and patient care.’
Many nurses said they did not like shift patterns being dictated by staffing needs. But while many preferred short shifts, the research found many nurses also saw some advantages of long shifts, and associated them with lower travel costs and more opportunities for paid overtime.
Almost 200 nurses highlighted the importance of thoughtfully timed days off, perhaps in blocks of two or three, to allow them to recover physically and emotionally – particularly when switching between night and day shifts. Many believed their switch-around time was too brief.
Ward managers must consider patient safety while being fair to all nursing staff
Study co-author, Peter Griffiths added: ‘Incorporating individual preferences into rotas is undoubtedly a difficult task, particularly with staffing pressures. Ward managers have to balance safety, patient care and fair consideration of requests across their workforce.
‘However, with the aid of modern rostering software, it may be possible to provide a greater level of shift satisfaction for nurses, improving their well-being and work-life balance, without compromising the quality of care.’
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