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Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

Abstract

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are highly vulnerable to fatigue as they continue to be faced with challenges such as understaffing and long hours, working to take care of people in all types of healthcare facilities; however, the most influential factors of fatigue as it pertains to their specific environment have yet to be elucidated. This study investigates the factors influencing CNA fatigue in urban and rural counties to determine which factors have the most significant impact, as well as whether the type of county contributes to differences in prevalence. A rapid qualitative analysis was conducted using interviews regarding the experience of each participant in their role. The analysis found that institutional factors, inclusive of understaffing, high patient/resident loads, low pay, and a lack of support for mental well-being, were the most influential in both urban and rural counties. Urban and rural county CNAs reported more similarities than differences in the daily challenges affecting their mental health. The implementation of higher wages, more training opportunities, and group support programs are just some of the ways in which the workplace environment could be improved. Future research should focus on determining whether facility type has an effect on the most influential factors of fatigue, as well as whether certain programs are effective at reducing the rates of fatigue among CNAs.

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