$890,000 funding to investigate nursing fatigue

$890,000 funding to investigate nursing fatigue

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is thrilled to be part of a 3-year research project that aims to find ways of managing fatigue in hospital-based nurses.

NZNO principal researcher Dr Léonie Walker, who will work on the project with Professor Philippa Gander and Dr Karyn O’Keeffe from the Sleep/Wake Research Centre, and Professor Annette Huntington of Massey's School of Nursing says she is delighted and excited to be working with such a world class team.

“This research is the first of its kind in New Zealand and follows on from Dr Gander’s previous research in the airline industry. Her work with the industry revolutionised the way airlines and pilots work together to reduce the risks of fatigue.”

“The potential for this collaborative research to create positive change within district health boards is great. The opportunity to create safer and healthier work environments for nurses and other shift workers will create flow on benefits for patients and employers.” Dr Walker says.

NZNO lead organiser and health and safety expert Lynley Mulrine will be part of an expert stakeholder advisory group working with the research team. She says, “This funding will enable us to take the findings of the research and actually apply it on the ground.”

“We have known for a long time that shift work increases the risk of fatigue-related errors. Now we can do something about it.”

“I am looking forward to working with a research team of this calibre and an expert stakeholder group to implement evidence-based and innovative best practice solutions.” Ms Mulrine says.

The latest round of funding totals $103.64 million, invested in 61 research contracts across 10 institutions. More information is available on the Health Research Council website.

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