A Longitudinal Study on Quick Returns and Occupational Accidents in Nurses

Registration: PMCID: PMC7737807

Status: Published

Tags: Cohort, Epidemiology, Fatigue, Fatigue & alertness, Health outcomes, Healthcare workers, Hospital, Night work, Night-shift workers, Nurses, Observational, Occupational health, Performance, Practical, Quick returns, Real-world, Recovery, Safety, Safety (workplace), Scheduling, Shift work, Well-being / Quality of life, Work schedules & policy

External URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7737807/

Summary

This 2-year study tracked 1,692 Norwegian nurses to see how “quick returns” — having less than 11 hours between shifts — influenced workplace accidents. Nurses who increased the number of quick returns over time were more likely to report accidents, including harm to themselves, patients, or equipment. By contrast, nurses who reduced their quick returns had a lower risk of accidents. The findings show that even small changes in recovery time between shifts can affect safety outcomes on the job.

Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls

For shift workers, quick returns aren’t just exhausting — they raise the risk of mistakes and accidents at work. This study shows that when schedules give you more time to recover between shifts, safety improves for both workers and those they care for. For nurses and other night-shift staff, advocating for longer breaks between shifts or adjusting schedules where possible can be a powerful step toward protecting alertness, safety, and patient care.

Notes

Companion evidence to injury risk case‑crossover studies.

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