Nurses Working Too Much?

Are Nurses Working Too Many Hours?

A study published in the American Journal of Nursing (AJN) finds that nurses are working too long, too much, and without enough rest between shifts. More than 25% typically worked 12 or more hours a day. Many worked more than 40 hours a week and six or more days in a row.

The report concludes that “ the proportion of nurses who reported working schedules that exceed the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine should raise industry-wide concerns about fatigue and health risks to nurses as well as the safety of patients in their care."
Source: AJN April 2006 article “How Long and How Much Are Nurses Now Working?”