Seyvan Sobhani, Mohammad Sharif Hosseini, Sara Tabanfar,
Volume 13, Issue 3 (9-2023)
Abstract
Introduction: Nurses’ high workload may affect their ability to work, cause health problems, and reduce nurses’ quality of life. Considering the important role of nurses in society’s health, it is important to identify the factors affecting their physical and mental health. The current study investigates and correlates nurses’ workload, quality of life, workability, and contextual variables.
Material and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study, 142 subjects from the ICU, CCU, emergency department, and other departments of Qazvin educational-therapeutic hospital participated. Data collection tools included a demographic information questionnaire, NASA-TLX (Task Load Index), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and work ability index (WAI). Data were analyzed with an independent t-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and a one-way ANOVA test.
Results: The mean and standard deviation of nurses’ age and work experience were 31.3±6.1 and 7.6±5.8, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of nurses’ workload score, quality of life, and workability were 80.4±13.4, 55.5±18.7, and 31.8±7.3, respectively. According to the results, nurses’ workload had a significant relationship with quality of life (P-value=0.001) and workability (P-value=0.000). Significant relationships were also observed between quality of life and workability (P-value=0.001). Quality of life had a significant negative correlation with age, work experience, and the number of nurses’ shifts per month (P-value<0.05). Nurses with higher education had lower workload and higher workability.
Conclusion: Nurses working in ICU and CCU units had a higher workload. Nurses with higher education levels had less workload and more ability to work. There was an inverse correlation between workload quality of life and nurses’ workability. It is possible to reduce nurses’ workload by reducing their tasks and working hours.
