Nursing management not only has to look at the shift preference of the RN but to look at the shift length on RN productivity and patient safety. Some research suggests that after 8 hours, fatigue and decreased job performance occurs. Research has shown that adapting to shift work is more difficult for workers over age 40. A recent study of the effect of age on performance found that older individuals (mean age 43.9) had less ability to maintain performance on standard neurobiological tests across a 12-hour shift compared with younger individuals (mean age 21.2) (Reid and Dawson, 2001). Reid, D Dawson - Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2001 - BMJ
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