Overtime
Overtime (Medicine)
Overtime (pronunciation: /ˈəʊvətaɪm/) in the context of medicine refers to the additional hours worked by healthcare professionals beyond their standard working hours.
Etymology
The term 'overtime' originates from the English language, where 'over' signifies exceeding and 'time' refers to the duration. In the medical context, it refers to the extended hours that healthcare professionals work beyond their scheduled shift.
Definition
Overtime in medicine is a common phenomenon due to the unpredictable nature of healthcare needs. It involves healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, and paramedics working beyond their scheduled hours to cater to the needs of patients. This could be due to emergencies, staff shortages, or unexpected increase in patient volume.
Related Terms
- Shift work: A work schedule involving different shifts, often used in 24-hour industries like healthcare.
- On-call: A term used when a healthcare professional is not on duty but can be called in for work if needed.
- Burnout: A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress, often seen in healthcare professionals due to long working hours including overtime.
Impact
While overtime can ensure continuous patient care, it can also lead to burnout, decreased job satisfaction, and potential errors due to fatigue. Therefore, it is crucial for healthcare institutions to manage overtime effectively to ensure both patient safety and staff well-being.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Overtime
- Wikipedia's article - Overtime
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