A descriptive study to assess the fatigue among nurses working in Hospital

The modern health care environment includes increased demands regarding improving patient care outcomes at the same time it is facing a serious nursing shortage. Work environment for nurses includes changing work patterns, lengthy shifts and added overtime. These aspects coupled with the increased acuity of patients and complexity of care set the stage for fatigue in nurses and increased errors affecting patients. Additionally, these issues may affect recruitment and retention of the nurses needed for effective care.

The objective of this study was to determine the level of fatigue among nurses working in hospital area.

In this study the research method used is non- experimental research design (descriptive research design), quantitative research approach, the target population of study were staff nurse, 45 samples were selected by convenient sampling. Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion /Recovery (OFER) scale was used to collect the data.

In overall analysis of level of fatigue among staff nurses 20(44.4%) were in acute fatigue and 15(33.3%) were in chronic fatigue.

Prevention and supporting programs may focus on firstly vulnerable nurses (female and older age group). The findings of the study have several implication in the following fields for nursing practice, nursing administration, nursing education and nursing research.