Mandatory Overtime for Nurses: Research Critiques and PICOT Statement

Mandatory Overtime for Nurses: Literature Evaluation
Student Name:
Mandatory Overtime
In recent years, authorities in the United States have raised caution over the increasing demand for nurses against a low production of qualified nurses. As a result, nurses face increased work burdens that have evolved into what is now called mandatory overtime. Across the US, states have passed legislation that restricts overtime for nurses. In Massachusetts, for instance, the law restricts hospitals from requiring mandatory overtime except in certain situations. Similarly, in Maryland, overtime is not forbidden as long as it is scheduled, with a nurse having the power to refuse to work if the scheduled overtime is exceeded. Despite these laws that restrict overtime, the ANA has received reports that there is a dramatic increase in the use of mandatory overtime as staffing, too CITATION ANA14 \l 2057 (ANA, 2014). Several studies have also supported this position. For instance, Bae and Brewer CITATION Bae10 \l 2057 (Bae & Brewer, 2010) established that 62% of nurses were being compelled to work overtime by their employers. In another most recent study, Stimpfel, Fletcher, and Kovner CITATION Sti19 \l 2057 (Stimpfel, Fletcher & Kovner 2019) established that 12% of newly registered nurses reported working mandatory overtime.
While mandatory overtime has been pursued to solve the current nursing crisis, it is not sustainable. Over time, job burnout, frustration, high rates of nurse turnover, inhibition of collaboration among nurses, and nurses' mental health outcomes CITATION Wam20 \l 2057 (Wamukoya, Kaniaru, & Wangui, 2020). According to the ANA, these links impact the quality of care, the safety of patients, the well-being and productivity of nurses, foster medical errors, and drive nurses away from the bedside. The PICOT question below prompts further investigation into the overtime issue and how it is linked to the emerging occupational phenomenon of work burnout.
PICOT Question: Among registered nurses working in hospital settings (Population), how effective is the lack of mandatory overtime (Intervention) compared to the presence of mandatory overtime (Comparison) in reducing perceived work burnout (Outcome) through a six months (Time) period of work?
Criteria

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

APA-Formatted Article Citation with Permalink

Wong, K., Chan, A. H., & Ngan, S. C. (2019). The Effect of Long Working Hours and Overtime on Occupational Health: A Meta-Analysis of Evidence from 1998 to 2018. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(12), 2102.

Stimpfel, A. W., Fletcher, J., & Kovner, C. T. (2019). A comparison of scheduling, work hours, overtime, and work preferences across four cohorts of newly licensed Registered Nurses. JAN. 75(1), 1902-1910.

Son, Y.-J., Lee, E. K., & Ko, Y. (2019). Association of Working Hours and Patient Safety Competencies with Adverse Nurse Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(21), 4083.

How Does the Article Relate to the PICOT Question?

The authors premise a lack of a meta-analysis examining the effects of long working hours on occupational health. They, therefore, conducted research to avail this information. They established that long working hours harm workers' occupational health. Considering that nurses' occupational health is paramount to patient safety and quality services, the study informs the PICOT question on the effects of overtime on patient safety and quality of services.

The authors investigate the work schedule, daily shift length, weekly work hours, second job, and weekly overtime hours of newly licensed registered nurses. All these aspects of the investigation contribute the occupational health outcomes. Thus, the study informs the current project because it touches on how overtime shapes nursing outcomes and, therefore, the safety and quality of care.

The authors premised an association between long working hours and patient safety competencies. This association has adverse nursing outcomes, including reduced quality of care and questionable patient safety considerations. Thus, the article is ideal for the current project because it informs on the impact of overtime on nurses. If this impact includes nurse burnout, and if the authors show that burnout and patient safety are interrelated, the articles expand the source of knowledge for the current project.

Quantitative, Qualitative (How do you know?)

The study is qualitative research because it relies on secondary sources (meta-analysis) to inform the authors’ concerns.

This is a mixed study for two reasons. Firstly, it collects information based on the opinions and insights of nurses. This qualitative data. Secondly, it also collects quantifiable data such as working hours. Since this data is presented numerically, it highlights the aspect of quantitative research. Thus, the study is mixed-methods research.

The study is mixed methods research because it collects qualitative and quantitative data through questionnaires.

Purpose Statement

In the study, the authors purposed to establish the factors affecting occupational health, focusing on long working hours based on what existing literature has said.

The purpose of the study was to conduct a comparative analysis of four cohorts of newly licensed RN and their work schedule…including overtime hours.

The purpose of the study was to examine the correlation between working hours and patient safety competencies and how it adversely impacts nursing outcomes. The ultimate goal was to establish ways to improve nurse outcomes. The study responded to previous studies focused mainly on the work culture and healthy working environments and not long working hours.

Research Question

To what extent do long working hours influence the occupational health of employees?

NA

Therefore, the researches question was: what is the correlation betwe...