Length of Shift and Critical Thinkin g Among ICU Staff Nurses

1. CAT Critically Appraised Topic Molly Falkner SN, Tawny NicolySN, Elizabeth Van Tuinen SN Carroll University, Waukesha, WI Collaborating ICU Practice Council Member: Cat Zyniecki, BSN, RN Waukesha Memorial Hospital, Waukesha, WI PICO QUESTION: Do ICU staff nurses who work 12-hour shifts have decreased critical thinking ability compared to ICU staff nurses who work 8-hour shifts? CLINICAL BOTTOM LINE: There is no significant difference in critical thinking ability between ICU staff nurses who work 8 and 12-hour shifts. Level of Evidence Fields, W., & Loveridge, C. (1988). Critical thinking and fatigue: how do nurses on 8- & 12-hour shifts compare? Nursing Economic$, 6(4), 189-191. Design: Quasi-Experimental Sample: 102 RNs in the Critical Care Department of an acute-care hospital in California. Of the 102, 50 worked an 8-hour shift and 52 worked a 12-hour shift. Findings:The Three-Minute Reasoning Test was completed by RNs in the first and last hour of their shift, and it was concluded that there was no significant difference in critical thinking ability between the 8-hour shift group and 12-hour shift group. Length of Shift and Critical ThinkingAmong ICU Staff Nurses