“I can’t endure it” vs. “I can handle it” - experiencing work fatigue risk for nurses: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Work fatigue has become a significant challenge for nursing staff, yet there is a paucity of qualitative research that explores their lived experiences in this context. This study aims to examine clinical nurses’ experiences with work fatigue risk and to identify the hindering an...
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Nursing |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03022-y |
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| author | Rong Pi Yunfang Liu Rong Yan Yan OuYang Wenjing Li Zixuan Hou Zong De Fang Liu Zihan He Yuxin Mei Suyun Li |
| author_facet | Rong Pi Yunfang Liu Rong Yan Yan OuYang Wenjing Li Zixuan Hou Zong De Fang Liu Zihan He Yuxin Mei Suyun Li |
| author_sort | Rong Pi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Work fatigue has become a significant challenge for nursing staff, yet there is a paucity of qualitative research that explores their lived experiences in this context. This study aims to examine clinical nurses’ experiences with work fatigue risk and to identify the hindering and facilitating factors contributing to this issue. Methods In this study with descriptive phenomenological method, semi-structured interviews with 25 nurses conducted in the meeting room of a hospital from June to August 2024. Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis method was used for data analysis. Results Three main themes with twelve subthemes were identified. The primary themes included: (1) phases of work fatigue risk experience, (2) hindering factors of work fatigue risk management, and (3) facilitating factors of work fatigue risk management. Nurses faced a combination of facilitators and inhibitors in managing work fatigue. While some nurses demonstrated a positive attitude towards their work, others showed a strong intention to leave the profession. Conclusions Our findings offer a nuanced understanding of the dynamic stages of nurses’ work fatigue experience, highlighting both hindering and facilitating factors that influence the management of work fatigue risk. Nurses encounter multiple challenges in managing work fatigue effectively, underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies. These strategies should address structural barriers while fostering individual resilience, ultimately promoting a healthier and more sustainable work environment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b0f7177d5f9e4b2dacea7757d31fd80d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj-art-b0f7177d5f9e4b2dacea7757d31fd80d2025-08-20T01:53:04ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-04-0124111210.1186/s12912-025-03022-y“I can’t endure it” vs. “I can handle it” - experiencing work fatigue risk for nurses: a qualitative studyRong Pi0Yunfang Liu1Rong Yan2Yan OuYang3Wenjing Li4Zixuan Hou5Zong De6Fang Liu7Zihan He8Yuxin Mei9Suyun Li10Department of Nursing, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nursing, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nursing, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nursing, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nursing, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nursing, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Cardiology, Lhasa People’s HospitalDepartment of Nursing, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nursing, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nursing, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nursing, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background Work fatigue has become a significant challenge for nursing staff, yet there is a paucity of qualitative research that explores their lived experiences in this context. This study aims to examine clinical nurses’ experiences with work fatigue risk and to identify the hindering and facilitating factors contributing to this issue. Methods In this study with descriptive phenomenological method, semi-structured interviews with 25 nurses conducted in the meeting room of a hospital from June to August 2024. Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis method was used for data analysis. Results Three main themes with twelve subthemes were identified. The primary themes included: (1) phases of work fatigue risk experience, (2) hindering factors of work fatigue risk management, and (3) facilitating factors of work fatigue risk management. Nurses faced a combination of facilitators and inhibitors in managing work fatigue. While some nurses demonstrated a positive attitude towards their work, others showed a strong intention to leave the profession. Conclusions Our findings offer a nuanced understanding of the dynamic stages of nurses’ work fatigue experience, highlighting both hindering and facilitating factors that influence the management of work fatigue risk. Nurses encounter multiple challenges in managing work fatigue effectively, underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies. These strategies should address structural barriers while fostering individual resilience, ultimately promoting a healthier and more sustainable work environment.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03022-yClinical nurseNursingPhenomenographyQualitative researchWork fatigue risk |
| spellingShingle | Rong Pi Yunfang Liu Rong Yan Yan OuYang Wenjing Li Zixuan Hou Zong De Fang Liu Zihan He Yuxin Mei Suyun Li “I can’t endure it” vs. “I can handle it” - experiencing work fatigue risk for nurses: a qualitative study BMC Nursing Clinical nurse Nursing Phenomenography Qualitative research Work fatigue risk |
| title | “I can’t endure it” vs. “I can handle it” - experiencing work fatigue risk for nurses: a qualitative study |
| title_full | “I can’t endure it” vs. “I can handle it” - experiencing work fatigue risk for nurses: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | “I can’t endure it” vs. “I can handle it” - experiencing work fatigue risk for nurses: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | “I can’t endure it” vs. “I can handle it” - experiencing work fatigue risk for nurses: a qualitative study |
| title_short | “I can’t endure it” vs. “I can handle it” - experiencing work fatigue risk for nurses: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | i can t endure it vs i can handle it experiencing work fatigue risk for nurses a qualitative study |
| topic | Clinical nurse Nursing Phenomenography Qualitative research Work fatigue risk |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03022-y |
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