Nurse Fatigue

Fatigue-related impairments are similar to alcohol-related impairments. “Someone who has not slept for 18 hours is as impaired as someone with a 50 mg% blood alcohol level” (Canada Safety Council, 2006).

Nurses who work a shift lasting more than 12.5 hours “are likely to make three times more errors” (Rogers et al., 2004, as cited in CNA & RNAO, 2010).

• Nurse Fatigue Fact Sheet
• Nurse Fatigue Position Statement
• Nurse Fatigue and Patient Safety: Research Report