Korean J Occup Health Nurs.  2023 May;32(2):49-57. 10.5807/kjohn.2023.32.2.49.

Job Experiences of Nurses Participating in Pilot Project of Fixed Night Shift Nursing by a Tertiary Hospital

• KMID: 2551007
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5807/kjohn.2023.32.2.49

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to explore the meaning of job experiences of fixed night shift nurses participating in a pilot project by a tertiary hospital, and to provide basic information for improving their night shift working environment.
Methods
A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using individual interviews in September 2022. Three female nurses who worked fixed night shifts were recruited from a tertiary hospital. Data were analyzed using content analysis.
Results
By analyzing the meaning of job experience as a fixed night shift nurse, four categories and nine subcategories were identified. The four categories of job experience of fixed night shift nurses were: expecting an improvement physical health due to predictable working hours, enjoying leisure time due to long off-duty hours, regretting for loosened relationships, and considering a successful settlement of fixed night shift nursing. Conclusion: As night shift work is essential for nurses to provide continuous nursing to patients, it is necessary to develop various strategies to improve the physical health of night shift nurses through fatigue management and good sleep quality, mental health through work-life harmony, and social health through intimate relationships between patients and coworkers.