Exploring the Relationship between Patient Acuity,Patient Assignments and Fatigue among Nurses

Abstract

This study surveyed 114 registered nurses throughout Ohio to determine if there was a relationship between patient acuity and perceived fatigue. Also examined for a potential relationship to perceived fatigue were nurse-patient ratios (NPRs) and the method by which nurse-patient assignments (NPAs) were created. Two validated fatigue scales, the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery (OFER) scale were used to capture participants perception of fatigue at their workplace. Resultsindicated that the interaction between patient acuity and NPR was significantly related to FAS ratings while NPR had a significant relationship to acute fatigue on the OFER scale. Most nurses experience substantial fatigue, with high acuity patients having an overall greater impact. We recommend that NPAs shall contain fewer high acuity patients than lower acuity patients. Additionally, The OFER acute fatigue scale (OPER-AF) suggests that assignments should contain no more than five patients to mitigate fatigue.

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