Mandatory Overtime and Its Effects on Patient Safety

This study aims to examine the relationship between mandatory overtime and its effects on patient safety. Six nurses working mandatory overtime and five nurses working a 40-hour work week have been interviewed to determine their views on mandatory overtime, documented errors they have reported, and levels of stress they are experiencing over the last three months of working. The nurses working mandatory overtime reported higher numbers of patient safety errors at the bedside and overall higher job stress than the nurses working a 40-hour work week.