The Dynamics of Workload, Work Shifts, and Work Stress: Implications for Nurse Performance in Inpatient Wards at Military Hospital X

Nurse performance is a crucial factor in ensuring the quality of hospital services, particularly in inpatient wards, which face high workload pressure and intensive shift work systems. This study aims to analyze the effect of workload and shift work on nurse performance, with work stress as a mediating variable at military hospital X. Using a quantitative approach with Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis and involving 85 inpatient nurse respondents, the results showed that workload had a significant positive effect on performance but not on work stress; while shift work had a significant positive effect on work stress but did not affect performance. Another important finding is that work stress significantly mediated the relationship between shift work and performance, but did not mediate the relationship between workload and performance. This study confirms that intensive shift work combined with a shortage of workers can increase work stress, which in turn acts as adaptive and productive stress in improving performance, especially when supported by factors such as self-efficacy, military organizational culture, and nurse work resilience.