Association Between the Work Environment and Nurses' Resilience in Selected Geriatric Facilities in Hanoi, Vietnam

Global healthcare systems face increasing pressure from rapidly ageing populations and persistent nursing workforce shortages. These challenges are particularly pronounced in geriatric care, where nurses must meet complex clinical demands while sustaining long-term, emotionally intensive care.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between the nursing work environment and resilience among nurses working in geriatric facilities in Hanoi, Vietnam.

A descriptive, cross-sectional correlational design was employed. Data were collected from 222 nurses across six geriatric facilities in Hanoi. The Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI, short version) and a standardised resilience measurement tool were used. Pearson's correlation coefficient was applied to assess associations between variables.

Nurses perceived their work environment as generally supportive, particularly regarding leadership and care quality, despite lower ratings for resource adequacy. A statistically significant moderate positive correlation was found between the overall work environment and nurse resilience (r = 0.534, p = 0.001). Subdomain analyses revealed a nuanced pattern: while a strong focus on nursing care was positively associated with stress management capacities, it was inversely related to aspects reflecting personal balance, suggesting potential tensions between professional adaptability and personal boundary maintenance.

A supportive work environment is fundamentally associated with higher resilience among geriatric nurses. However, resilience in this context appears multidimensional, whereby professional coping strengths may coexist with challenges in maintaining personal balance. Organisational support is therefore essential not only for enhancing resilience but also for sustaining the long-term well-being of the geriatric nursing workforce.

Nursing managers should prioritise culturally responsive leadership and participatory decision-making while addressing structural factors such as staffing and resource allocation. Organisational interventions that balance professional demands with personal sustainability are critical to fostering resilient geriatric nursing practice.