NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours

Create a Positive Atmosphere

Research provides evidence that supervisor and coworker support reduces some of the risks associated with shift work and long work hours.³¹ You can reduce nurses’ job stress by creating a positive atmosphere, which reduces the psychological stress that leads to poor sleep. Create a work environment with these characteristics:

• Interpersonal communications are always respectful
• Nurses have significant control in decision-making
• Nurses are not exposed to threats or violence (e.g., bullying)
• Roles are clear
• Job security is enhanced
• Time pressures are minimized
• Resources enable nurses to get their jobs done
• Positive feedback is given for a job well done.

For more information, see Eriksen et al.,³² Geiger-Brown, et al.,³³ McDonald & Kahn,³⁴ Shirey,³⁵ and Way & MacNeil.³⁶