Job and Financial Stress as Determinants of Nursing Staff Performance: An Exploratory Study of Public Hospital

Abstract

Job stress is a pervasive issue in the healthcare sector, especially among nursing staff at tertiary-level public hospitals such as the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. Nurses at PIMS operate under immense pressure due to high patient turnover, limited staffing, insufficient resources, and minimal public or institutional recognition of their roles. The critical imbalance in the nurse-to-patient ratio further intensifies occupational and financial stress, adversely affecting nurses’ physical and psychological well-being, job satisfaction, and overall work performance. This study investigates the impact of job-related and financial stress on the performance of female nursing staff at PIMS. A descriptive-analytical research design was adopted, and data were collected through structured questionnaires from a sample of 155 staff nurses at PIMS. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between job stress and job performance. Financial insecurity was also found to be a strong contributor to reduced motivation and increased turnover intentions. The findings highlight the pressing need for PIMS hospital administration to implement evidence-based stress management programs, including emotional resilience training, financial planning education, and equitable workload distribution. These interventions are essential to safeguard nurse well-being, enhance retention, and maintain the quality of healthcare services in Pakistan’s public health system.