Exploring the Relationship Between Perfectionism and Workaholism Among Nurses: The Moderating Role of Career Calling

Background Nurses often report perfectionistic tendencies and workaholism, setting high personal standards that may be related to their well‐being. Career calling has been proposed as a factor that may shape this relationship. Aim This study explored the relationship between perfectionism and workaholism among nurses, with a focus on the moderating role of career calling. Methods A descriptive, cross‐sectional correlational design was employed at an Egyptian hospital. A convenience sample of 360 nurses completed three scales: the Big Three Perfectionism Scale‐Short Form, the Workaholism Scale, and the Career Calling Scale. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and hierarchical moderated regression. Results Nurses reported moderate levels of perfectionism and workaholism, while career calling was predominantly high. Perfectionism was positively associated with workaholism ( r  = 0.225, p  < 0.001) and career calling ( r  = 0.209, p  < 0.001). Career calling was also positively associated with workaholism ( r  = 0.445, p  < 0.001). Moderated regression analysis revealed that career calling significantly moderated the relationship between perfectionism and workaholism ( B  = 0.17, p  = 0.004), with the association becoming stronger as career calling increased. Conclusion Career calling may function as a double‐edged construct that strengthens the association between perfectionism and workaholism among nurses. While fostering purpose and professional commitment, healthcare organizations should also support healthy boundaries and work–life balance to reduce the risk of excessive work involvement and promote nurses’ well‐being. As the findings are cross‐sectional, causal inferences cannot be made.