Iranian Journal of Ergonomics

Introduction: Many employees in different professions including nurses work with shifts. On the other hand, different and long shift work  can endanger physical and mental health of nurses. This study, according to ergonomic standards, aimed to design a model for shift working in order to minimize the problems caused by shift work.

Methods: In this study, all 35 nurses working in the emergency ward of Imam Sajjad (AS) Hospital of Ramsar city, Iran, were considered. Then, the information gathered from answering the Morningness-Eveningness questionnaire (MEQ) (Circadian rhythm) and Survey Sampling International (SSI) (personal and social charactristics) questionnaire were changed to a model and then reconstruct after comparing it again with circadian rhythm principals. The final model was implemented with GAMS (gamma-glutamylaminomethylsulfonic acid) and at the end, shift working with ergonomic criteria were proposed.

Results: Shift working were designed for each nurse. Also, the obtained objective function value (Z=1.110223e-16) showed that the designed model was really close to ideal model. According to hospital rules and policies, if five more nurses get added to the currently employed ones, the proposed working program on one hand will improve satisfaction and efficiency of nurses and on the other hand it can decrease the effects of disorders on shift work.

Conclusions: Hospitals can have healthy and motivated workforce by applying the scientific approach to adjust a suitable working plan for their nurses and decrease the number of disabilities and also the rate of early retirement.