It depends on the Plan and Execution of the Institution

Example in the University of Queensland - Nursing Studies - Shift work

UQ’s Master of Nursing Studies is designed to prepare students for a smooth transition into the work force. In the first year, morning and evening shifts at the Princess Alexandra Hospital are incorporated with small group based teaching at the Translational Research Institute. Final year students are expected to attend night and weekend shifts where they will refine and develop their skillset.

Thanks Krishnan. In my department, nurses undertake their masters on their own accord and we do not get a special roster to complete these papers. Once we complete our masters we may go into a clinical role allowing us to develop into a nurse practitioners role but not always.

Maybe the question needs to be more

What are nurses experiences of undertaking shift work whilst completing post gradute study?

Dear Stacy

having clinical experience definitly adds to the maturity level during the academic study. However if both occurs at the same time, it will be a load on person to handle the work and the study demands.

Hi Stacey,

Having undertaken post graduate studies in England whilst working Full-time shift work in a hospital tiredness is a key factor. It is essential to have a supportive home environment, without the support of my husband it would have been difficult to study and care for my 12month old daughter. Work/ life balance is an ongoing struggle for which many nurses contend with on a daily basis. The Police service in England carried out a study of the impact of shift patterns on police officers (it may be worth you looking at this).

 So you want to know what impact working shift work has on post graduate performance - do you mean academic performance? or clinical practice performance?

Personal experience of working full time shift work at a hospital while trying to complete a masters can be challenging. However, depending on individual circumstances and the hospital policy with regard to whether or not all shifts needs to be worked, working shift hours can be advantageous, indeed can make it possible for a post graduate student to have access to post graduate study. For example, night duty rosters, especially if one only ever works this shift, can allow the post graduate student to work a focused stint of 5-7 night's in a row and then be off duty for a week. So essential one week on duty, the next off duty. This can be very helpful to a post graduate student and allow them plenty of time to complete study commitments whilst still maintaining their income and clinical experience. This undoubtedly will be helpful to their study also. Some may suggest this has the potential to tire the student out. I feel this is dependent on the individual student .