Nurses Work-Life Quality; A Concept Analysis

Abstract

The quality of nurses’ work life (QNWL) is a complex, multidimensional concept encompassing the balance, satisfaction, and well-being that nurses experience across their professional and personal domains. Although recognized as vital to healthcare systems, QNWL has often been inconsistently defined and conflated with overlapping constructs such as job satisfaction, work-life balance, and burnout. This study seeks to clarify the meaning and scope of QNWL, identifying its core characteristics, contributing factors, and resulting outcomes, while also establishing means for its practical measurement. Guided by Walker and Avant’s eight-step concept analysis method, a comprehensive review of thirty-four relevant articles published between 2020 and 2024 was conducted, drawing from databases including Google Scholar, PubMed Central, Scopus, and Web of Science. The analysis revealed five defining attributes: balance between work and personal life, job satisfaction, supportive and equitable work environments, psychological and physical well-being, and opportunities for professional development and autonomy. Antecedents of QNWL included supportive leadership, sufficient staffing, organizational fairness, manageable workloads, and access to continued learning. Consequences were observed at individual, organizational, and patient levels, ranging from increased nurse satisfaction and retention to improved team performance and patient care quality. Empirical indicators such as the Quality of Nursing Work Life Scale and metrics like retention rates, absenteeism, and patient safety data were identified as effective tools for assessing QNWL in real-world settings. Ultimately, QNWL emerges as a distinct and actionable concept that integrates personal, institutional, and professional elements of nursing practice. By clarifying its structure and impact, this analysis contributes to the development of policies and strategies that foster nurse well-being, workforce resilience, and safer, more compassionate patient care.