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What shifts do you prefer to work?

Nurses, healthcare assistants and nursing associates asked to share their views in our survey on working patterns

Picture shows a screen at a nurse station displaying shift patterns
Picture: Jim Varney

Nursing Standard and the University of Southampton have launched a survey about working patterns for nursing staff.

The survey aims to help develop a better understanding of nurses’ preferences regarding shift lengths, and of the challenges related to making decisions about shift patterns.

Lengths of current shifts and work-life balance

Leading nursing workforce researchers from the university’s school of health sciences will evaluate the data, which will inform their research.

Questions in the survey include:

  • What length of shift do you usually work in your main job?
  • How many hours do you work in a typical week, including overtime?
  • What would be your preferred shift length?

In a short video (below), the school's deputy head, research and enterprise, Jane Ball explains why they want nursing staff to get involved in the research.

University of Southampton nursing workforce lecturer Chiara Dall’Ora says: ‘While our research, and that of others, has highlighted the negative effects of long shifts, there are still uncertainties when it comes to personal preference.

‘We know that some nurses like long shifts, but we don’t know the nuances and complexities behind such preferences yet.’

University of Southampton nursing workforce lecturer Chiara Dall’Ora
Chiara Dall’Ora

Nurses, healthcare assistants and nursing associates invited to take part

Professor Ball says: ‘Through this research we hope to better understand nurses’ preferences, but also some of the challenges in decisions about shift patterns.

‘We hope you will take part in this survey to help us explore these issues.’

The survey is open to all registered nurses, healthcare assistants and nursing associates in the UK, and closes at 5pm on Tuesday 1 December.

Share your experiences in the Nursing Standard-University of Southampton survey

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