Medical students react to study findings that link nursing errors to long hours
The study, led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that the probability of a nurse making an error were "significantly increased when work shifts were longer than twelve hours, when nurses worked overtime, or when they worked more than forty hours per week."
The lead author of the study states, "data on the impact of long nursing shifts have been limited, although many studies have linked sleep-deprived physicians to medical mistakes."
"If it has been proven that nurses should not work over forty hours per week, then how is it safe for a doctor to work over eighty?" says Brian Palmer, M.D., M.S., M.P.H., AMSA national president. "The current regulations placed upon medical residents have undoubtedly improved working conditions for many; however, this new information proves that patients are unsafe when hospital staff works extended shifts."
One year ago, on July 1, 2003, the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) implemented regulations on resident work hours, which state that residents cannot work over 80 hours per week (averaged over four weeks). AMSA has received dozens of reports of violations of these guidelines.
AMSA supports the Patient and Physician Safety and Protection Act of 2003, introduced by Senator Jon Corzine (S.952) and Representative John Conyers (H.R.1228), which would enforce work hour regulations through civil penalties rather than a loss of accreditation and appropriate needed funds for hospitals to hire more auxiliary staff, and provide whistleblower protection to resident physicians who report violations.
The Institute of Medicine estimates that up to 98,000 patients die each year from medical errors.
"There is more than enough evidence to support continued action in work hour enforcement," continues Palmer. "There are risks involved for the patient when a doctor or a nurse works long hours, risks that can be avoided."
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), with more than a half-century history of medical student activism, is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States.
Kim Becker, Director of Public Relations
American Medical Student Association
Phone: (703) 620-6600, ext. 207
Email: prel@www.amsa.org
American Medical Students Association
Medicale studenþilor de a reacþiona studiu constatãri cã link-ul de erori de asistenþã medicalã la timp orã - Medical students react to study findings that link nursing errors to long hours - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate