Developing nurse and midwife centred rostering principles using co-design: a mixed-methods study

Abstract Background Current nursing and midwifery rosters are based on guidelines which may no longer adequately meet the needs of health services or staff and often result in decreased job satisfaction, poor health and wellbeing, and high turnover. Little is known about the rostering needs and pref...

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Main Authors: Sara Holton, Bodil Rasmussen, Karrie Long, Madison Bellizia, Jac C. Mathieson, Shane Crowe, Douglas Mill, Harry Pasion, Claire Rankin, Maree Woodhouse, Meaghan Douglas, Nadine Glanville, Kylie Baker, Kethly Fallon, Megan Hoffmann, Nicole Sliwa, Denise Heinjus, Lisa Fitzpatrick, Paul Gilbert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Nursing
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02522-7
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author Sara Holton
Bodil Rasmussen
Karrie Long
Madison Bellizia
Jac C. Mathieson
Shane Crowe
Douglas Mill
Harry Pasion
Claire Rankin
Maree Woodhouse
Meaghan Douglas
Nadine Glanville
Kylie Baker
Kethly Fallon
Megan Hoffmann
Nicole Sliwa
Denise Heinjus
Lisa Fitzpatrick
Paul Gilbert
author_facet Sara Holton
Bodil Rasmussen
Karrie Long
Madison Bellizia
Jac C. Mathieson
Shane Crowe
Douglas Mill
Harry Pasion
Claire Rankin
Maree Woodhouse
Meaghan Douglas
Nadine Glanville
Kylie Baker
Kethly Fallon
Megan Hoffmann
Nicole Sliwa
Denise Heinjus
Lisa Fitzpatrick
Paul Gilbert
author_sort Sara Holton
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Current nursing and midwifery rosters are based on guidelines which may no longer adequately meet the needs of health services or staff and often result in decreased job satisfaction, poor health and wellbeing, and high turnover. Little is known about the rostering needs and preferences of contemporary nurses and midwives in Australia. The aim of this study was to identify the rostering concerns, needs and preferences of nurses and midwives, and co-design acceptable, equitable and feasible rostering principles. Methods A mixed-methods design using a co-design approach with three components: survey, discussion groups, and co-design workshops. Nurses and midwives employed at three public health services in Victoria, Australia were invited to participate. The quantitative (survey) data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the qualitative (discussion groups and co-design workshops) data using thematic analysis. Results Surveys were completed by 715 nurses and midwives including unit (n = 14) and roster (n = 13) managers. Nurses and midwives (n = 688) were mostly satisfied with their roster (mean satisfaction score = 57.4). Many had responsibilities or commitments which impacted their roster availability (n = 406, 61.6%) and over half had taken personal leave due to roster-related fatigue (n = 335, 59.1%) or unmet roster requests (n = 310, 54.7%). Midwives reported significantly less satisfaction (p < 0.001) and more challenges with current roster practices than nurses. Roster and unit managers described spending considerable time preparing and reworking rosters. Thirty-nine nurses and midwives participated in a focus group and outlined concerns about the fairness and equity of current roster practices, and the adverse impact on their health, work, and personal lives. Ninety-one nurses and midwives participated in a co-design workshop and identified a need for roster practices and guidelines which ensure flexibility, fairness and equity, and fatigue management. Conclusions Although nurses and midwives were mostly satisfied with their rosters, they often experienced frustrations and challenges with current roster guidelines and practices as well as adverse effects on their health and work and personal lives. Nurses and midwives identified a preference for fair and equitable rosters which provide flexibility and enable them to manage their other commitments and responsibilities, reduce roster-related fatigue, and provide high quality patient care.
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spelling doaj-art-27e28e6fdcf04b07b993aef221e2e7fc2025-08-20T02:40:14ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552024-12-0123111410.1186/s12912-024-02522-7Developing nurse and midwife centred rostering principles using co-design: a mixed-methods studySara Holton0Bodil Rasmussen1Karrie Long2Madison Bellizia3Jac C. Mathieson4Shane Crowe5Douglas Mill6Harry Pasion7Claire Rankin 8Maree Woodhouse9Meaghan Douglas10Nadine Glanville11Kylie Baker12Kethly Fallon13Megan Hoffmann14Nicole Sliwa15Denise Heinjus16Lisa Fitzpatrick17Paul Gilbert18School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin UniversitySchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin UniversityClinical and Professional Leadership, Safer Care VictoriaClinical and Professional Leadership, Safer Care VictoriaClinical and Professional Leadership, Safer Care VictoriaNursing and Midwifery, Western HealthNursing and Midwifery, Western HealthNursing and Midwifery, Western HealthNursing and Midwifery, Western HealthNursing and Midwifery, Echuca Regional HealthNursing and Midwifery, Echuca Regional HealthNursing and Midwifery, Echuca Regional HealthNursing and Midwifery, Echuca Regional HealthNursing Services, First Nations Health & Residential Aged Care, The Royal Melbourne HospitalNursing Services, First Nations Health & Residential Aged Care, The Royal Melbourne HospitalNursing Services, First Nations Health & Residential Aged Care, The Royal Melbourne HospitalNursing Services, First Nations Health & Residential Aged Care, The Royal Melbourne HospitalAustralian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (Victorian Branch)Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (Victorian Branch)Abstract Background Current nursing and midwifery rosters are based on guidelines which may no longer adequately meet the needs of health services or staff and often result in decreased job satisfaction, poor health and wellbeing, and high turnover. Little is known about the rostering needs and preferences of contemporary nurses and midwives in Australia. The aim of this study was to identify the rostering concerns, needs and preferences of nurses and midwives, and co-design acceptable, equitable and feasible rostering principles. Methods A mixed-methods design using a co-design approach with three components: survey, discussion groups, and co-design workshops. Nurses and midwives employed at three public health services in Victoria, Australia were invited to participate. The quantitative (survey) data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the qualitative (discussion groups and co-design workshops) data using thematic analysis. Results Surveys were completed by 715 nurses and midwives including unit (n = 14) and roster (n = 13) managers. Nurses and midwives (n = 688) were mostly satisfied with their roster (mean satisfaction score = 57.4). Many had responsibilities or commitments which impacted their roster availability (n = 406, 61.6%) and over half had taken personal leave due to roster-related fatigue (n = 335, 59.1%) or unmet roster requests (n = 310, 54.7%). Midwives reported significantly less satisfaction (p < 0.001) and more challenges with current roster practices than nurses. Roster and unit managers described spending considerable time preparing and reworking rosters. Thirty-nine nurses and midwives participated in a focus group and outlined concerns about the fairness and equity of current roster practices, and the adverse impact on their health, work, and personal lives. Ninety-one nurses and midwives participated in a co-design workshop and identified a need for roster practices and guidelines which ensure flexibility, fairness and equity, and fatigue management. Conclusions Although nurses and midwives were mostly satisfied with their rosters, they often experienced frustrations and challenges with current roster guidelines and practices as well as adverse effects on their health and work and personal lives. Nurses and midwives identified a preference for fair and equitable rosters which provide flexibility and enable them to manage their other commitments and responsibilities, reduce roster-related fatigue, and provide high quality patient care.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02522-7NursesMidwiferyHealth servicesHospitalsOccupational healthFatigue
spellingShingle Sara Holton
Bodil Rasmussen
Karrie Long
Madison Bellizia
Jac C. Mathieson
Shane Crowe
Douglas Mill
Harry Pasion
Claire Rankin
Maree Woodhouse
Meaghan Douglas
Nadine Glanville
Kylie Baker
Kethly Fallon
Megan Hoffmann
Nicole Sliwa
Denise Heinjus
Lisa Fitzpatrick
Paul Gilbert
Developing nurse and midwife centred rostering principles using co-design: a mixed-methods study
BMC Nursing
Nurses
Midwifery
Health services
Hospitals
Occupational health
Fatigue
title Developing nurse and midwife centred rostering principles using co-design: a mixed-methods study
title_full Developing nurse and midwife centred rostering principles using co-design: a mixed-methods study
title_fullStr Developing nurse and midwife centred rostering principles using co-design: a mixed-methods study
title_full_unstemmed Developing nurse and midwife centred rostering principles using co-design: a mixed-methods study
title_short Developing nurse and midwife centred rostering principles using co-design: a mixed-methods study
title_sort developing nurse and midwife centred rostering principles using co design a mixed methods study
topic Nurses
Midwifery
Health services
Hospitals
Occupational health
Fatigue
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02522-7
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