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Abstract
Background: In Pakistan’s healthcare system, nurses form the backbone of hospital-based patient care and often face demanding working conditions, particularly under shift-based schedules. In Punjab, heavy workloads, staff shortages, and inconsistent rest cycles contribute to occupational strain, affecting both job satisfaction and work performance. Despite the significance of these issues, limited research has examined the relationship between shift work, job satisfaction, and work ability among nurses in tertiary hospitals. This study aimed to assess work ability levels and identify occupational factors influencing the work ability of shift-working nurses in Lahore, Pakistan.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 160 registered nurses working 8- and 12-hour rotating and fixed shifts at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Mayo Hospital, and Services Hospital, Lahore. Data were collected using the Work Ability Index (WAI) and the Mueller/McCloskey Satisfaction Scale (MMSS) to measure job satisfaction. Statistical analyses included descriptive and correlation to explore associations between demographic, occupational, and satisfaction-related variables and work ability.
Results: Work ability was significantly lower among nurses who were older, had longer work experience, and worked 12-hour rotating shifts (p < .05), while job satisfaction showed a moderate positive correlation with work ability (r = .347, p < .01). Additionally, shift type and living place were significantly associated (p < .05), indicating that nurses commuting from other cities were more likely to work extended shifts.
Conclusion: The study concludes that both demographic and occupational factors, particularly extended shift schedules and lower job satisfaction, significantly reduce nurses’ work ability, underscoring the need for improved shift management and supportive workplace practices.