Shift Work Characteristics and Burnout Among Nurses
Summary
This cross-sectional survey gathered responses from 873 nurses in the UK and Ireland in 2019 to examine how shift characteristics influence burnout and exhaustion. Participants reported on shift length, schedule choice, staffing levels, and break-taking. The study found that nurses working 12-hour shifts were more likely to report burnout, but this effect seemed linked to having less choice over their schedules. Inadequate staffing was another strong predictor of burnout. For exhaustion, rarely or never taking breaks also made symptoms worse. Overall, the results suggest that burnout is shaped not just by how long shifts are, but by how much control and recovery time staff have.
Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls
For nurses and other shift workers, this research shows that burnout isn’t only about long hours — it’s about the conditions around those hours. Nurses with little say over their schedules, poor staffing support, or no chance to take breaks were more likely to feel burned out and exhausted. That means solutions don’t just lie in cutting shift length; giving workers more input, protecting breaks, and staffing shifts adequately can make night work more sustainable and less draining.
Notes
Includes moderation by schedule choice.