What determines physical, mental and emotional workloads on nurses? A cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Nursing workload determinants
• Healthcare management
• Job Demand-Resources theory

Background:

• Workload has physical, mental, and emotional dimensions impacting well-being and care quality.
• Specific predictors for each nursing workload dimension are understudied.
• Understanding workload is crucial for effective healthcare interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify determinants of physical, mental, and emotional nursing workloads.
• Investigate factors influencing nurse workload dimensions.
• Inform interventions to improve nurse well-being.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional prospective study design.
• Utilized the Job Demand-Resources theory.
• Nurses reported perceived workload over three weeks in two academic hospitals.

Main Results:

• Physical workload influenced by all tested variables.
• Mental workload predicted by patient complexity, staffing, and unscheduled activities.
• Emotional workload affected by patient factors and workflow, but not staffing adequacy.

Conclusions:

• Patient, nurse, and workflow factors uniquely impact different dimensions of nursing workload.
• Defining workload predictors is essential for targeted interventions.
• Addressing specific workload dimensions can improve nurse well-being in healthcare.