Impact of Fatigue Associated with Long Hours as it Relates to Patient Article

Impact of Fatigue Associated with Long Hours as it Relates to Patient Safety - Article Example Thus, while fatigue derives from a number of causes, there is one aspect of fatigue that is highly dangerous to the performance of nurses. The fatigue derived from extended working shifts for nurses, coupled with deprivation of enough sleep results to a state of body where the nurses can neither function effectively physically nor apply the cognitive function of the mind efficiently. Studies have indicated that within the last century, the average sleep duration for working days has changed, from 9 hours in 1910, to 6 hours in 2002 (Rogers, 2008). Thus, while the actual sleeping duration for healthy adults has not yet been determined, the effects of extended period of work, coupled with lack of adequate sleep has been extensively documented. The well defined adverse effects of sleep deprivation that is coupled with extended long period of work include reduced motivation and mood alterations, physiological problems and cognitive problems, which then translates to poor job performance and high safety risks (Shen, Barbera & Shapiro, 2006). Other adverse effects of extended working shifts and deprivation of sleep are irritability, stress and depression, which in turn affect the interpersonal communication and interaction between the individuals involved and other parties. In this respect therefore, fatigue that arises either from extended shifts for the nurses, resulting to their overworking, or the fatigue that results from deprivation of adequate sleep, has the potential of affecting the nurses in two major ways. First, such fatigue is likely to result to irritation and mood changes, which means that the nurses will address and interact with patients in a less productive manner, or even in a more negative manner, resulting to the patients being dissatisfied with the nurses’ services (Rogers, 2008). Secondly, fatigue is likely to cause the

Summary on Review of Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary on Review of Literature - Essay Example Even with their limited resources, they do not only produce more jobs but are also more innovative than large firms. Chia (2009) undoubtedly reckoned that Singapore’s SMEs play an important role in the country as they are a critical pillar to Singapores economy, employing 60 per cent of the workforce. There are about 160,000 SMEs, hiring 1.7 million workers and contributing 40% non-oil foreign exchange to Singapore’s GDP (MTI 2009; Shin and Soh 2009). The major problems Singapore SMEs face as a result of the recession include loss of revenues that happens because their sales volumes have drastically been reduced as they could not export many of their products to overseas; insufficient capital to fund some of their operations due to the restrain on lending from banks and other lending institutions as the financial crisis bit harder; a drop in production as industries attempt to cut cost by firing some of their workers (OECD & APEC 2008, pp.103-104). Barton (2009) found out that Asian sub-continent might have found itself in this recession mess because of its over-dependence on Western economy, coming from the crisis spearheaded by the sudden demise of Lehman Brothers and other giants Western financial powerhouses. This condition, according to Holland et al (2009) has caused contraction or shrinking of Asian economies. Even as a leader in private banking, Schuman and Chowdhury (2009) found out that all past efforts have meant little in the face of the current downturn. It is as a result of this that Singapore Government realized that prompt actions must be taken in order to salvage its SMEs while maintaining overall economy growth in the country (Chia 2009; Asia Monitor, 2009). While the recent global recession is receding (Economic Survey of Singapore Second Quarter 2009, 2009), declining GDP, competitiveness, new world order, soaring unemployment rate and long-term job losses are always the most politicized and demoralizing fa ctor which