Workload Management and Its Impact on Nurse Performance

Authors

M. Adila Rossa

University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta (Indonesia)

Al-Bahra

Education University of Raharja (Indonesia)

Ewin Suciana

University of Yarsi Pratama (Indonesia)

Article Information

DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI.2026.1308000123

Subject Category: Management

Volume/Issue: 13/8 | Page No: 2411-2423

Publication Timeline

Submitted: 2026-07-30

Accepted: 2026-08-04

Published: 2026-09-08

Abstract

Nurse workload is a crucial factor that can impact the quality of nursing performance and service delivery. Excessive workload can arise from high patient volumes, complex patient conditions, limited staff, time pressure, documentation demands, and administrative tasks. This study aims to analyze nurses' experiences in managing workload and identify its impact on nurse performance. The study used a qualitative approach with a descriptive qualitative design. Participants were purposively selected based on their work experience and direct involvement in nursing care. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, non-participatory observation, and documentation, then analyzed using thematic analysis. The results revealed five main themes: workload as an imbalance between demands and resources; patient complexity and administrative tasks as sources of workload; the impact of workload on concentration and performance quality; nurse adaptation strategies; and the importance of organizational support and staffing management. High workload can cause physical and mental fatigue, reduce concentration, and increase the risk of work delays. However, teamwork, prioritization, and organizational support can help maintain nurse performance. Workload management needs to be systematic and based on service needs.

Keywords

Workload; Nurse Performance; Nursing Management

Downloads

References

1. Al Sabei, S. D., Labrague, L. J., Ross, A. M., Karkada, S., Albashayreh, A., Al Masroori, F., & Al Hashmi, N. (2020). Nursing work environment, turnover intention, job burnout, and quality of care: The moderating role of job satisfaction. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 52(1), 95–104. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12528 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Asamani, J. A., Amertil, N. P., & Chebere, M. (2015). The influence of workload levels on performance in a rural hospital. British Journal of Healthcare Management, 21(12), 577–586. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjhc.2015.21.12.577 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Brassington, S., Thomas-Hawkins, C., Johansen, M. L., de Cordova, P. B., Cimiotti, J. E., & Zha, P. (2025). Impact of registered nurse staffing, workload, and the practice environment on burnout in emergency nurses. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 51(4), 684–691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2025.01.007 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Carvalho, D. P. de, Rocha, L. P., Pinho, E. C. de, Tomaschewski-Barlem, J. G., Barlem, E. L. D., & Goulart, L. S. (2019). Workloads and burnout of nursing workers. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 72(6), 1435–1441. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2017-0659 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Dall’Ora, C., Ball, J., Reinius, M., & Griffiths, P. (2020). Burnout in nursing: A theoretical review. Human Resources for Health, 18, 41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-020-00469-9 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Durosaiye, I. O., Hadjri, K., Liyanage, C. L., & Bennett, K. (2018). A matrix for the qualitative evaluation of nursing tasks. Journal of Nursing Management, 26(3), 274–287. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12543 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Faeni, D. P., Syeikholbi, D., & Husada, C. (2023). Workload and work stress toward nurses’ performance at Indonesian General Hospital. Dinasti International Journal of Management Science, 4(5), 998–1010. https://doi.org/10.31933/dijms.v4i5.1880 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Ge, M.-W., Hu, F.-H., Jia, Y.-J., Tang, W., Zhang, W.-Q., & Chen, H.-L. (2023). Global prevalence of nursing burnout syndrome and temporal trends for the last 10 years: A meta-analysis of 94 studies covering over 30 countries. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(17–18), 5836–5854. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16708 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Griffiths, P., Recio-Saucedo, A., Dall’Ora, C., Briggs, J., Maruotti, A., Meredith, P., Smith, G. B., & Ball, J. (2018). The association between nurse staffing and omissions in nursing care: A systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 74(7), 1474–1487. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13564 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Griffiths, P., Saville, C., Ball, J., Jones, J., Pattison, N., Monks, T., & Safer Nursing Care Study Group. (2020). Nursing workload, nurse staffing methodologies and tools: A systematic scoping review and discussion. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 103, 103487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.103487 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Hapsari, S., Purba, J. M., & Ashar, T. (2024). The influence of workload, burnout, distress on nurses’ performance post COVID-19 pandemic. Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research, 6(6). https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v6i6.3937 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Jackson, J., Maben, J., & Anderson, J. E. (2022). What are nurses’ roles in modern healthcare? A qualitative interview study using interpretive description. Journal of Research in Nursing, 27(6), 504–516. https://doi.org/10.1177/17449871211070981 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Li, L. Z., Yang, P., Singer, S. J., Pfeffer, J., Mathur, M. B., & Shanafelt, T. (2024). Nurse burnout and patient safety, satisfaction, and quality of care: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open, 7(11), e2443059. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.43059 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Lützerath, J., Bleier, H., & Schaller, A. (2022). Work-related health burdens of nurses in Germany: A qualitative interview study in different care settings. Healthcare, 10(2), 375. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10020375 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Maghsoud, F., Rezaei, M., Asgarian, F. S., & Rassouli, M. (2022). Workload and quality of nursing care: The mediating role of implicit rationing of nursing care, job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion by using structural equations modeling approach. BMC Nursing, 21, 273. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-01055-1 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. McMullan, S. P., Raju, D., & Patrician, P. (2020). The psychometric analysis of an instrument to measure the perceived workload for certified registered nurse anesthetists. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 28(3), 503–520. https://doi.org/10.1891/JNM-D-19-00028 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Moghadam, K. N., Chehrzad, M. M., Masouleh, S. R., Maleki, M., Mardani, A., Atharyan, S., & Harding, C. (2021). Nursing physical workload and mental workload in intensive care units: Are they related? Nursing Open, 8(4), 1625–1633. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.785 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Niskala, J., Kanste, O., Tomietto, M., Miettunen, J., Tuomikoski, A.-M., Kyngäs, H., & Mikkonen, K. (2020). Interventions to improve nurses’ job satisfaction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 76(7), 1498–1508. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14342 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Pamungkas, R. A., Ruga, F. B. P., & Kusumapradja, R. (2023). Impact of physical orkload and mental workload on nurse performance: A path analysis. International Journal of Nursing and Health Services, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.35654/ijnhs.v5i2.604 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Pourteimour, S., Yaghmaei, S., & Babamohamadi, H. (2021). The relationship between mental workload and job performance among Iranian nurses providing care to COVID-19 patients: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(6), 1723–1732. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13305 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Rizzo, A., Yıldırım, M., Güler Öztekin, G., De Carlo, A., Nucera, G., Szarpak, Ł., Zaffina, S., & Chirico, F. (2023). Nurse burnout before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic comparative review. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1225431. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1225431 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Rostami, F., Babaei-Pouya, A., Teimori-Boghsani, G., Jahangirimehr, A., Mehri, Z., & Feiz-Arefi, M. (2021). Mental workload and job satisfaction in healthcare workers: The moderating role of job control. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, 683388. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.683388 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Shin, S., Oh, S. J., Kim, J., Lee, I., & Bae, S.-H. (2020). Impact of nurse staffing on intent to leave, job satisfaction, and occupational injuries in Korean hospitals: A cross-sectional study. Nursing & Health Sciences, 22(3), 658–666. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12709 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Shin, S., Park, J.-H., & Bae, S.-H. (2018). Nurse staffing and nurse outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nursing Outlook, 66(3), 273–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2017.12.002 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. The integration of care ethics and nursing workload: A qualitative systematic review. (2022). Journal of Nursing Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13723 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Uchmanowicz, I., Lisiak, M., Wleklik, M., Pawlak, A. M., Zborowska, A., Stańczykiewicz, B., Ross, C., Czapla, M., & Juárez-Vela, R. (2024). The impact of rationing nursing care on patient safety: A systematic review. Medical Science Monitor, 30, e942031. https://doi.org/10.12659/MSM.942031 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. van den Oetelaar, W. F. J. M., Roelen, C. A. M., Grolman, W., Stellato, R. K., & van Rhenen, W. (2021). Exploring the relation between modelled and perceived workload of nurses and related job demands, job resources and personal resources: A longitudinal study. PLOS ONE, 16(2), e0246658. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246658 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Woo, T., Ho, R., Tang, A., & Tam, W. (2020). Global prevalence of burnout symptoms among nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 123, 9–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.12.015 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Xu, J., Dong, Z., Xie, W., Yang, L., Zhou, Y., & Li, J. (2025). Nurses’ burnout and patient safety culture: The moderating effect of structural empowerment. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(9), 5389–5400. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16363 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Yuan, L., Yumeng, C., Chunfen, Z., & Jinbo, F. (2020). Analyzing the impact of practice environment on nurse burnout using conventional and multilevel logistic regression models. Workplace Health & Safety, 68(7), 325–336. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165079919900796 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Zeng, L.-N., Zhang, J.-W., Zong, Q.-Q., Chan, S. W.-C., Browne, G., Ungvari, G. S., Chen, L.-G., & Xiang, Y.-T. (2020). Prevalence of burnout in mental health nurses in China: A meta-analysis of observational studies. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 34(3), 141–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2020.03.006 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

Metrics

Views & Downloads

Similar Articles