Re: 24hour shifts

[Jneff71@aol.com]

We often argue the pro's and con's about 24 hour shifts as well as the 
percieved inherent danger that lies in them. I am curious if anyone has taken 
the opportunity to embark in a "time of day QA study".  Perhaps a study 
should be done if not already that takes into account the hour of the day 
that the QA fallout occurs.  Does working a 24 and being tired and prone to 
personality conflicts as well as potential patient mismanagement differ any 
from the crew member who is working 12's  but has a long night before a 12 
hour day shift...be it out in social activities, or the new baby kept them up 
all night...or they worked at the Fire Station the night before etc etc.
There are a multitude of environmental factors that also have to come into 
play in this complex argument.  What part of the country are you working 
in...is working a 24 in the South Texas, New Mexico or Arizona heat, 100+ 
degrees for 14 of the 24 differ from flying a 24 in August in Wisconsin.
All that aside I would be very interested in the scientific data retrieved 
from an indepth QA study directly related to the airmedical industry that 
shows an increase or decrease in the number of patient mismanagement issues 
on shifts greater than 12 hours versus those 12 and under.  It is important 
that the study be done under airmedical conditions, not a nursing floor study 
done previously.  While it would be easy to retrieve data that way I have to 
keep in mind the beast in which we work, I would venture to say that working 
a SNF stepdown unit does not get the endorphin rush etc that one gets when 
the pager goes off at 4am for an extrication in progress...
Cheers,
Josh
Ex-Fly guy...
Now I just fly my helo simulator when my secretary isnt listening and read 
flightweb for my endorphin rush..  ;)

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