Perceived Influence of Workload on Nurses' Job Performance and Patient Outcomes in KWASUTH

Background: Nurses’ workload is a major organisational factor that can influence job performance and patient outcomes. In teaching hospitals, workload pressure may be intensified by high patient volume, inadequate staffing, rotating shifts, overtime, documentation demands, and patient acuity. Aim: This study examined the perceived influence of workload on nurses’ job performance and patient outcomes in Kwara State University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Data were analysed from 180 nurses using a structured questionnaire that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, perceived workload, job performance, workload impact, patient outcome risk, and workload management strategies. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression were used for data analysis. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean perceived workload score was 3.37 ± 0.39, and 113 respondents (62.8%) had high workload. The mean job performance score was 2.73 ± 0.33, with most respondents, 130 (72.2%), reporting moderate job performance. The mean patient outcome risk score was 3.62 ± 0.27, and 161 respondents (89.4%) reported high perceived patient outcome risk. Perceived workload was negatively correlated with job performance (r = -0.459, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with patient outcome risk (r = 0.596, p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that workload significantly predicted job performance (B = -0.313, p < 0.001) and patient outcome risk (B = 0.364, p < 0.001). Inadequate nurse-patient ratio also significantly predicted patient outcome risk (B = 0.093, p = 0.013). Conclusion: Higher perceived workload was associated with reduced nurses’ job performance and increased perceived risk of poor patient outcomes. Improving staffing levels, reviewing nurse-patient ratios, reducing non-nursing duties, strengthening managerial support, and providing adequate resources are recommended to enhance nurses’ performance and patient care outcomes in KWASUTH.