<b>IMPACT OF NURSING WORKLOAD ON QUALITY OF PATIENT CARE AT MEDICARE HOSPITAL MULTAN</b>

Background: Nursing workload represents a critical factor influencing both nurse well-being and patient outcomes. In healthcare systems globally, concerns about staffing adequacy and its impact on care quality have intensified, yet limited empirical evidence exists from the Pakistani context, particularly among post-RN nursing professionals. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of nursing workload on the quality of patient care among post-RN nursing students at Medicare Hospital, Multan. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical design was employed with a sample of 210 post-RN nursing students selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using standardized instruments: the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) for workload assessment and a modified version of the Quality Patient Care Scale (QUALPACS). Descriptive statistics (mean, median, standard deviation) were computed for all variables. Inferential analysis included Pearson's correlation coefficient, independent-samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and linear regression (Field, 2018). Results: The mean workload score was 76.84 (SD = 12.36, Median = 78.00), indicating high perceived workload among participants. The mean quality of patient care score was 62.37 (SD = 14.28, Median = 64.00), suggesting moderate levels of reported care quality. A significant negative correlation was found between workload and quality of care (r = -0.487, p < 0.001). Workload differed significantly across clinical units (F = 4.23, p = 0.006), with intensive care and emergency units reporting the highest workloads. Regression analysis revealed that workload significantly predicted quality of care (β = -0.487, p < 0.001), explaining 23.7% of the variance. Conclusion: Nursing workload demonstrates a significant inverse relationship with quality of patient care. High workload levels among post-RN nursing students are associated with compromised care quality, particularly in high-acuity settings. These findings underscore the urgent need for workload management strategies and staffing optimization in Pakistani healthcare facilities (Griffiths et al., 2020).