Nurses are the largest group of health professionals in New Zealand, and DHB-based nurses working in acute settings, who were the main focus of this project, account for approximately 40% of all Registered and Enrolled Nurses.

This project incorporated recent advances in science and safety management to develop and implement an evidence-based approach to managing shift work and fatigue of nurses in New Zealand hospitals, and was supported by extensive sector engagement and promotional activities.

Key outputs from the project included:

• Nationwide survey of Registered and Enrolled DHB Nurses’ work patterns in 6 practice areas with a high a priori risk of fatigue-related error.
• Fatigue risk assessment matrix based on the survey findings.
• Code of Practice for shift work and fatigue management in hospital-based nursing, developed in collaboration with key stakeholders and with broad sector consultation.

Updates and outputs are available on the project website: www.safernursing24-7.co.nz.

Collaborators

Professor Annette Huntington and Adjunct Associate Professor Leonie Walker (Massey University), Dr Jinny Willis (New Zealand Nurses Organisation)

Funders

• Major funder, Health Research Council of New Zealand
• Additional funders, New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, McCutchan Trust, Massey University