Abstract
Background
Nurse staffing adequacy is a critical organizational factor influencing workload intensity and occupational well-being among nurses. In tertiary care hospitals, persistent staffing shortages may contribute to burnout, threatening workforce stability and quality of care, particularly in resource-constrained health systems.
Objective
To examine the association between perceived nurse staffing adequacy and burnout among registered nurses working in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 registered nurses providing direct inpatient care at a public-sector tertiary hospital in Lahore. Data were collected using the Staffing Adequacy and Workload Scale (SAWS) and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). Descriptive statistics summarized staffing adequacy and burnout levels. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess associations between staffing adequacy and burnout domains, adjusting for selected demographic and work-related variables. Statistical significance was set at p < .05.
Results
Perceived staffing adequacy was low (M = 2.21, SD = 0.63), indicating substantial workload strain. Burnout levels were elevated across all domains, with work-related burnout showing the highest mean score (M = 71.8, SD = 14.7). Staffing adequacy was significantly and negatively associated with personal burnout (r = −.52), work-related burnout (r = −.60), and patient-related burnout (r = −.41) (all p < .001). In multivariable regression analysis, perceived staffing adequacy remained the strongest predictor of work-related burnout (B = −12.10, p < .001), explaining 42% of the variance in the outcome.
Conclusion
Registered nurses reported low staffing adequacy and high levels of burnout, particularly work-related burnout. Improving staffing adequacy may be a key organizational strategy for reducing burnout and supporting nurse retention in tertiary care hospital settings.