Service Quality Implications of Long Periods of Consecutive Working Days: An Empirical Study of Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Teams

Felix Miedaner (), Ludwig Kuntz (), Kerstin Eilermann (), Bernhard Roth () and Stefan Scholtes ()
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Felix Miedaner: Faculty of Health and Healthcare Sciences, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, 38440 Wolfsburg, Germany
Ludwig Kuntz: Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, Department of Business Administration and Healthcare Management, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany
Kerstin Eilermann: Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, Department of Business Administration and Healthcare Management, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany
Bernhard Roth: Medical Faculty and Cologne University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
Stefan Scholtes: Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1AG, United Kingdom

Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 2024, vol. 26, issue 4, 1422-1434

Abstract: Problem definition : We examine the effects of prolonged consecutive working days without breaks on care quality and explore its association with daily staffing levels in neonatal intensive care nursing teams. Academic/practical relevance : Healthcare organizations typically base staffing guidelines on safe daily metrics like nurse-to-patient ratios. However, in response to unforeseen demand spikes or staff shortages, managers often depend on staff working additional consecutive days to bridge staffing gaps. This approach, although addressing immediate staffing needs, can inadvertently impact care quality and safety, potentially undermining the benefits of higher staffing levels. Methodology : Using longitudinal data from 62 German neonatal units, we analyze the effect of nursing teams’ consecutive working days on the time from admission to full enteral feeding for 847 low-birth-weight babies, considering nurse-to-patient ratios and patient complexity. Results : Longer consecutive working periods harmfully affect care quality, especially during staffing shortages. The detrimental impact on days with low staffing is particularly pronounced in patients with less complex medical needs. Limiting the team-average number of consecutive working days to two days would have reduced the time to full enteral feeding in our study by 6.4%. Shifting from half a day less to half a day more than the average number of consecutive working days has an impact equal to 20% of the difference in time taken to reach full enteral feeding between low- and high-birth-weight babies. Managerial implications : Limiting consecutive working days could significantly improve intensive care outcomes. Management should monitor consecutive working days alongside daily staffing levels. Policy makers should consider introducing limits on the number of consecutive working days for intensive care nurses.

Keywords: hospital operations; intensive care; consecutive working days; nurse-to-patient ratio (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:ormsom:v:26:y:2024:i:4:p:1422-1434

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