Work-life balance of expatriate nurses working in acute care settings

Nurs Open. 2021 Nov;8(6):3201-3211. doi: 10.1002/nop2.1033. Epub 2021 Aug 11.

Abstract

Aim: To examine the quality of work life of acute care expatriate nurses in multiple regions of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A country-wide cross-sectional survey was carried out between June-August 2020 using the Brooks' quality of nursing work-life questionnaire.

Results: The range of quality of nursing work-life scores (80 to 245) was moderate, with an overall mean score of 175.3 (± 23.1). Only 723 (42.4%) of the nurses experienced a high quality of nursing work life. Multivariable regression analysis showed that 21 to 40 years' age group, being a Filipino or Indian nurse and working in the northern region were the independent predictors of low quality work life.

Conclusion: Most expatriate nurses were not satisfied with their quality of work life. Hospital administrators should take initiatives to enhance the quality of expatriate nurses' work life towards improving their productivity and quality of patient care.

Keywords: QNWL; Saudi Arabia; acute care; expatriate nurses; job satisfaction; nursing workforce; turnover; workforce issues.

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Nurses*
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital*
  • Work-Life Balance