Network analysis and within-unit correlation of nurse fatigue and recovery measures and their association with unit manager fatigue and recovery.

BACKGROUND

Nurse fatigue and recovery can influence staff well-being and patient outcomes. Understanding the relationships among different types of fatigue and recovery and the extent to which these measures are shared among nurses within the same unit is crucial for guiding effective interventions. Examining the relationship between unit managers' fatigue and recovery levels and those of staff nurses is also important, given managers' impact on unit dynamics and support.

AIM

This study aimed (1) to explore connections among nurse fatigue (mental, physical, acute, chronic) and inter-shift recovery using a network-based approach; (2) to quantify the extent to which fatigue and recovery vary among nurses within the same unit; and (3) to investigate the relationship between unit managers' and staff nurses' fatigue and recovery levels.

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from April 2021 to July 2022 in 24 units across three U.S. Midwest hospitals. Data were collected via surveys from 24 managers and 598 staff nurses. Network analysis was used to map and identify central connections among fatigue and recovery measures, intra-class correlations were calculated to assess within-unit variability, and linear mixed models were employed to examine manager-staff relationships.

RESULTS

Physical fatigue emerged as a central element within the network of fatigue and recovery measures, strongly connecting to other measures. Intra-class correlation values indicated that acute and physical fatigue varied meaningfully between units, while mental fatigue showed minimal variation. Unit managers' acute and physical fatigue levels were significantly associated with those of staff nurses.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggested the importance of physical fatigue as a leverage point for targeted interventions and highlight the need for unit-specific strategies that address both individual and collective sources of fatigue. By integrating a network-based perspective and examining manager-staff relationships, this study offers practical insights to improve nurse well-being and strengthen effective leadership.