This information is for reference purposes only. It was current when produced and may now be outdated. Archive material is no longer maintained, and some links may not work. Persons with disabilities having difficulty accessing this information should contact us at: https://info.ahrq.gov. Let us know the nature of the problem, the Web address of what you want, and your contact information.
Please go to www.ahrq.gov for current information.
Association of Work Duration and Errors
| Work Duration (hours) |
ANA Sample* |
AACN Sample |
| No. Shifts (%) |
No. shifts with at
least one error (%) |
OR (p= value) |
No. Shifts (%) |
No. shifts with at
least one error (%) |
OR (p= value) |
| < 8.5 |
771 (14.4%) |
12 (1.6%) |
1.0 |
543 (9%) |
11 (2%) |
1.0 |
| > 8.5, < 12.5 |
2484 (46.8%) |
77 (3.1%) |
1.85 (0.06) |
1720 (29%) |
46 (3%) |
1.42 (0.304) |
| > 12.5 |
2057 (38.9%) |
103 (5%) |
3.29 (0.0001) |
3748 (62%) |
146 (4%) |
1.94 (0.028) |
| Total |
5312 |
192 |
|
6011 |
203 |
|
* Rogers, et al, 2004, Hospital Staff Nurse Work Hours and Patient Safety Health Affairs
Previous Slide Contents Next Slide 
5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857