Nurses’ Workload Perception and Its Relationship with Their Job Control, and Emotional Exhaustion

Elnamly, Mahmoud Ahmed Abdo Abdallah; Baddar, Fatma Mustafa; Elliethey, Nansy Sabry

doi:10.21608/asalexu.2024.392487

Nurses’ Workload Perception and Its Relationship with Their Job Control, and Emotional Exhaustion

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

¹ Nursing administration department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University

² Professor Nursing administration department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University

³ Assistance Professor Nursing Administration Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University

10.21608/asalexu.2024.392487

Abstract

Background: The amount of work perceived as a workload and time pressure were described as the major stressors for healthcare providers, when physical and psychological demands exceed resources with a low level of Job control, healthcare providers become stressed and are more likely to develop emotional exhaustion. Aim: The study aimed to assess nurses’ workload perception and its relationship with their job control, and emotional exhaustion. Settings: The study was conducted at Fever and Hepatology Hospital which is affiliated with the Ministry of Health and Population with a bed capacity of 215 Beds. The total number of units included in the study was 16 units. Subjects: Included all nursing staff (n =235) who were assigned to the previously mentioned settings were either professional nurses (n =76) or technical nurses (n =159), who were available during the period of data collection and agreed to participate in this study. Tools: Three tools were used for data collection; Workload questionnaire, developed by Hoonakker et al. (2011), Job Control Questionnaire, developed by Sasaki et al. (2020) ,and Emotional exhaustion scale developed by Martínez-Líbano et al. (2022). Results: There was a strong positive correlation between workload and emotional exhaustion (r = 0.766**P =.000), and between job control and workload (r = 0.771**P =.000.). Furthermore, there is a moderate positive correlation between job control and emotional exhaustion (r = 0.572**P =.000). Conclusion: It appears that job control shields workers from emotional burnout as workloads rise. Recommendations: Workload and job control are important factors in enhancing the working environment; low workload and low exhaustion are signs of an improved working environment, which can also be linked to increased job control. Organizational administrators and nurse managers should develop strategies to lower employees' workload and increase their sense of control by promoting workplace autonomy.

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