The Effect of a Caring-Based Quality of Nursing Worklife Program on Burnout Syndrome and Professional Performance Among Female Nurses: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

ntroduction: Nurses frequently encounter high incidences of Burnout Syndrome precipitated by excessive workloads, taxing emotional demands, and the inherent strain of prolonged patient interactions. Furthermore, female nurses often experience compounded stress arising from the dual burden of professional obligations and domestic responsibilities. Consequently, the implementation of a caring-based QNWL intervention is imperative; by integrating carative principles, healthcare institutions can fortify emotional resilience, mitigate occupational stress, and ultimately optimize the standard of clinical care. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the Caring-Based QNWL Program in mitigating burnout syndrome and enhancing professional performance. Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design to evaluate outcomes among sixty-six female nurses (n=66), who were equally distributed into intervention and control groups (n=33 each). The intervention group underwent an 8-week Caring-Based QNWL program, whereas the control group received standard institutional care. To assess the primary variables, the Maslach Burnout Inventory was utilized to measure burnout levels, while nursing performance was evaluated across five distinct dimensions. Data analysis was conducted using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: The implementation of the program significantly reduced Burnout Syndrome, with mean scores decreasing from 43.21±9.688 (pretest) to 38.82±6.729 (posttest), p=.003. Nurse professional performance improved significantly, with scores rising from 66.85±6.95 to 70.88±4.03, p<.001. In contrast, the control group showed no significant changes (Burnout: p=.203; performance: p=.301). Between-group comparison confirmed significant differences in burnout (p= .009) and performance (p=.001) after the program. Conclusions: The Caring-Based Quality of Nursing Work Life (QNWL) program is an effective approach for reducing burnout syndrome and improving professional performance among nurses. Through the systematic integration of carative values into routine clinical practice, this program supports psychological well-being and individual productivity and can be adapted for sustainable implementation across diverse healthcare settings.