Graduation Year
2025
Document Type
Senior Thesis
Degree
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Primary Major
Nursing
Thesis Advisor
Luanne Linnard-Palmer RN, MSN, EdD, CPN
Abstract
The relationship between extended nurse work hours and increased clinical errors is a growing concern in nursing and healthcare systems. This issue has only grown more pronounced since the pandemic, which exacerbated staffing shortages and placed unprecedented demands on the nursing workforce. Longer shifts often lead to fatigue, impaired decision-making, and decreased cognitive performance, creating challenges for both nurses and patients. To better frame the analysis, this thesis relied on The Swiss Cheese Model to better conceptualize risk management. This thesis examined the correlation between consecutive hours worked and the frequency of errors made by nurses while also exploring the broader impacts on clinical performance, occupational health, and patient safety. A comprehensive review of existing literature, including large-scale surveys, observational studies, and regression analyses, was conducted to better understand this issue. The objective was to synthesize current findings to better communicate them effectively to nurses, healthcare administrators, and policymakers to inform staffing decisions and workplace reforms. The currently available literature showed marked inconsistencies when comparing various studies that showed different levels of correlation between hours worked and errors made. In addition, this thesis proposed a future descriptive cross-sectional study involving a survey distributed to hospital-based nurses to assess the relationship between self-reported fatigue, error frequency, and near misses. The goal of this proposed research is to identify gaps in education and institutional policy regarding overtime, support evidence-based recommendations, and promote nurse-centered scheduling practices that protect both worker well-being and patient safety.