A Descriptive Approach to assess the knowledge regarding work related Fatigue among Intern Nurses
Sindhu Anil Menon1, Dr. Daisy Abraham2
1Research Scholar, Shri JJT University, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.
2Professor, Shri JJT University, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.
*Corresponding Author E-mail: sindhuanil67@yahoo.co.in
ABSTRACT:
Background and Objective: Fatigue is one of the most debilitating and prevalent symptoms in nurses. Many times it is left unrecognized and perhaps the cause of many medical errors. Aim of This Study: was to investigate the knowledge of intern nurses working in a hospital regarding work related fatigue and to find out the association between the knowledge and demographic variables. Materials And Methods: A purposivesamplingtechniquewasusedtocollectdatafromthesample.Thesamplessizewas 100 intern nurses. A self administered questionnaire was used as the tool. Results: The knowledge level was assessed by self structured questionnaire. The result shows only 10(10%) of sample had adequate knowledge were as 30(30%) of sample had moderate knowledge and 60(60%) of sample had inadequate knowledge regarding work related fatigue. There was no significant association between the knowledge and demographic variables.
KEYWORDS: Fatigue, Knowledge, Intern Nurses.
INTRODUCTION:
Everyone experiences fatigue occasionally. It is the body’s way of signaling its need for rest and sleep. But when fatigue becomes a persistent feeling of tiredness or exhaustion that goes beyond normal sleepiness, it is usually a sign that something more serious. Physically, fatigue is characterized by a profound lack of energy, feelings of muscle weakness and slowed movements or central nervous system reactions. Fatigue can also trigger serious mental exhaustion.[1] Berger and Hobbs, 2006, et.al, over the past two decades, there has been increasing recognition that patient safety is one of the most pressing issues in healthcare. As the public scrutinizes healthcare, professionals must examine their practice. [2]
Recent papers by professional groups such as those released by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) 2010, and the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) 2011, exploring patient safety and nurse fatigue reflect this trend. It has been well established that the cognitive, psychomotor and mood disturbances that result from fatigue are associated with serious health and safety risks.[3] 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 environments for nurses include 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. [4]
NEED FOR STUDY:
Nurses are constantly exposed to the pain and suffering of those in their care. With each patient interaction, the nurse is faced with the patient’s distress and isolation. For a number of nurses, theloss of compassion is an inevitable outcome of these exposures. Such interactions and exposures can be stressful to the nurse over a long period of time. Compassion fatigue, or secondary traumatization, is the final stage in a long period of stress. Secondary traumatization, also known as compassionfatigue, can occur in those who work closely with or study victims of traumatic events.[5]
According to Figley, 1995, secondary traumatization is also an occupational risk to professionals who provide direct or indirect patient care. [6]
A comprehensive definition of nurse fatigue is Nurse Fatigue is a subjective feeling of tiredness (experienced by nurses) that is physically and mentally penetrative. It ranges from tiredness to exhaustion, creating an unrelenting overall condition that interferes with individuals’ physical and cognitive ability to function to their normal capacity. It is multidimensional in both its causes and manifestations; it is influenced by many factors: physiological (e.g., circadian rhythms), psychological (e.g., stress, alertness, sleepiness), behavioural (e.g., pattern of work, sleep habits) and environmental (e.g., work demand). Its experience involves some combination of features: physical (e.g., sleepiness) and psychological (e.g., compassionfatigue, emotionalexhaustion). Itmaysignificantlyinterfere with functioning and may persist despite periods of rest.[7]
Nurses are the backbone of any healthcare unit. The pressures of overtime and long working hours createawork–personal life imbalance, which begins to affect the health of the employees. Other factors such as long commuting hours and chaotic traffic conditions adding to their stress affect the employee's efficiency and effectiveness. [8]
It can undermine the employee's relationship at home as well as on the job. This can have a negative influence on their physical and emotional health and lead to psychosomatic disorders. Economic loss to the organization due to errors, wrong decisions, wrong choice, lack of attention, and injury are some of the serious effects of chronic stress. The trend of nurses working over time started with downsizing of organizations and the trend to have only skeletal manning. Absenteeism is compensated by others doing overtime. This increases the take-home pay but is likely to injure their health. Such nurses experience severe stress and require more sick leaves. This risk increases with the length of overtime.[9]
Quantitative descriptive approach was used for the study. The present study was conducted to assess the Knowledge regarding work related fatigue among intern nurses
Non-experimental descriptive research design was used.
The study was conducted in Shri Shankaracharya Institute of MedicalSciences, junwani, bhilai 750 bedded medical college hospital
The populations of the study was intern nurses who have completed their BSc nursing, GNM, Post Basic Bsc nursing final year studies and posted in as junior intern nurse.
The sample size used was 100 intern nurses(BSc nursing, GNM, Post Basic BSc nursing)
Non probability purposive sampling technique was used for the present study.
a. Inclusion criteria:
*Intern nurses age between 21-29 year of age
*Intern nurses who are present at the time of data collection
*Intern nurses who are not present at the time of data collection
*Intern nurses who are willing to participate in the study.
Development and Description of the Tool:
The tool was developed by the researchers on reviewing literature and in consultations with medical and nursing experts in the field of psychology, mental health nursing.
The tool consist of two sections
Section A: Demographic variables like age, gender, religion, income, education, residence and year of experience.
Section B: Modified questionnaire to assess the level of knowledge regarding work related fatigue among intern nurses
Tools consist of 30 questions with choices regarding work related fatigue where correct answer is given 1 score and the others are given 0score
The data was collected by using self-structured questionnaire method.
The descriptive statistics mean, percentage is used to explain the sample characteristics and knowledge on work related fatigue among intern nurses. Chi square was used to find out the association between the intern nurses knowledge and demographic variables.
The study finding revealed that:
Section A: Findings related to the Socio Demographic profile of the subjects in frequency and percentage:
· Age: majority (76%) were in the age between 21-23 years, (14%) of them between24-26 years and (10%) of them between 27-29years.
· Gender: majority of 74(74%) were belongs to female and 26(26%) of themale.
· Monthly income: majority80 (80%) were earning between Rs.10,000-15000 and (20%) of them were earningRs.5000-10,000
· Educational qualification: majority 52 (52%) were Bsc nursing graduates, (28%) have completed their GNM Nursing and (20%) of them have completed Post BSC nursing
· Resident: majority 84% of them stay in house,12% stay in hostel and other 4% stay as payingguest
· Year of experience: majority 75% had only less than 1 year of experience, 25%had 1 – 2 years of experience
Section B: Frequency, Percentage, mean score and Standard difference of subjects according to the level of knowledge regarding work related fatigue
Table 1: Overall Level of knowledge regarding Work Related Fatigue (N=100)
|
Level of Knowledge |
Score Criteria |
Frequeny |
% |
Mean Score |
SD |
|
Adequate Knowledge |
21-30 |
10 |
10 |
8.54 |
12.23 |
|
Moderate Knowledge |
11-20 |
30 |
30 |
||
|
Inadequate Knowledge |
1-10 |
60 |
60 |
Fig. 1: Percentage Distribution of population based on level of knowledge.
According to the level of knowledge regarding work related fatigue 60(60%) of population were having inadequate knowledge 30(30%) of population were having mode rate knowledge and 10(10%) of population were having adequate knowledge.
Section C: Chi-square analysis to assess the association between the levels of knowledgewith sociodemographic variables among internnurses.
The finding revels that the pretest knowledge score were not significantly associated with sociodemograhic variables like age,gender,monthly income ,residence, educational qualification,year of experience.
IMPLICATION OF THE STUDY:
The study may be utilized to understand the factors causing fatigue among junior nurses and proper training can be planned for the freshers joining in to the nursing profession.
Fatigue is driving nurses away from the bedside or the profession all together. Many studies have indicated that fatigue have negatively impacted the quality of care that is being delivered by healthcare providers as a whole. After their graduation, so many nurses and healthcare providers are not prepared to address the burden of becoming a caregiver.
The organisations responsible for training the young professionals will be accountable and provide a compulsory fatigue seminar/class to not only introduce them but train them for the real world in an attempt to uphold a standard of delivering nurses that would be able to provide quality treatment.
RECCOMENDATION:
It is necessary that this issues of fatigue is dealt with utmost importance, Burnout and fatigue affect healthcare staff at all levels, but it may lead to lapses in the standard of treatment they provide for nurses. Through educating themselves on the dangers, nurses will take action to protect their well-being and their patients ' safety.
Solving the issue begins with education.If nurses in units are qualified to recognise the symptoms of burnout or exhaustion in their own or their peers, they are more likely to mention actions towards prevention methods and play a role in offering coping mechanisms to better resolve the situation in fatigue and optimal patient care. Nurses should work together to eliminate nursing fatigue, armed with new skills.
Some recommendation in view of the present study is as follows.
*Similar Study related to knowledge of nurses among different age groups, different level of experience and different position can be done.
*Similar Study can be done related to assessment of fatigue among nurses in various hospital setup.
*Study related to burnout and coping strategies among nurses can be done.
*Study related to assessment of fatigue using different fatigue scale can be undertaken in the similar setup.
CONCLUSION:
In order to deal effectively with disturbing patient conditions,it is important that new nurses have the resources andexpertise.
Through doing so, without experiencing adverse psychological impact, nurses are ableto consistently provide successful patient care. In order toobtain
greater insight into the content of instructional interventions and the duration of the teaching intervention, higher standards of evidence are required.
ETHICAL CLEARANCE:
Obtained from Institutional Ethical Committee.
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Received on 14.10.2020 Modified on 11.11.2020
Accepted on 27.11.2020 ©A&V Publications All right reserved
Int. J. of Advances in Nur. Management. 2021; 9(1):68-71.
DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2021.00018.4