Fatigue, stress and cognitive load

cognitive load fatigue human factors stress Oct 01, 2026

Perianaesthesia work asks a lot of us. Long lists, rapid turnover, complex patients and constant vigilance all draw on the same finite reserve of mental energy. It is worth pausing to recognise that fatigue, stress and cognitive load are not personal failings. They are predictable, measurable risks to safe care.

Fatigue builds as sleep debt accumulates. It does not simply disappear with a strong coffee or a busy shift. It slows reaction time, narrows judgement and makes it harder to pick up subtle changes in a patient. Add in the cognitive load of multitasking, competing priorities and interruptions, and even experienced nurses can find their attention stretched thin.

Some key points worth holding onto:

😴 Sleep debt is cumulative and only recovers with genuine rest, not caffeine
🧠 Fatigue impairs vigilance, communication and decision making
⚠️ Workplace fatigue has been linked to missed or delayed care in perioperative settings
🤝 Teamwork and speaking up both suffer when staff are stretched

For anaesthetic nurses, this matters directly in the moment. When you are acting as the anaesthetist's second set of eyes, your own alertness underpins theirs. Noticing fatigue in yourself, a colleague or the broader team, and feeling safe to flag it, protects the vigilance the whole team depends on during critical tasks.

The takeaway is simple. Fatigue and cognitive load are patient safety issues, not just workforce wellbeing issues. Looking after your own alertness, and supporting colleagues to do the same, is part of safe perianaesthesia practice.

Build Knowledge ✅

Improve Safety ✅

Gillespie, B.M., Harbeck, E. and Chaboyer, W. (2025) 'The frequency and reasons for missed nursing care in Australian perioperative nurses: A national survey', Journal of Clinical Nursing, 34(1), pp.883-893.

Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (2020) PG43 Guideline on fatigue risk management in anaesthesia and perioperative medicine practice. ANZCA.

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