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Australian neonatal nurses’ professional quality of life: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated the demographic profile of surveyed Australian neonatal nurses, explored their self-reported professional quality of life status, and appraised the strength and direction of relationships between these variables. Australian College of Neonatal Nurses (ACNN) general members ( N = 950) were invited to participate. An online Qualtrics TM survey was distributed via email. Compassion satisfaction (CS) and fatigue (CF) scores were measured using the Modified Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-21]). Spearman’s correlation calculated the strength and direction of relationships between variables. Fifty-three neonatal nurses responded to the survey ( N = 950, response rate = 5.58%). Respondents reported moderate to high-level compassion satisfaction and high-level compassion fatigue. Nurses in clinical roles revealed higher compassion fatigue scores than those in non-clinical roles. A statistically significant positive correlation was detected between years of experience in neonatal care and compassion satisfaction (r = 0.277, 95% CI [0.002, 0.513]). These findings question the belief that education and experience safeguard against work-related stress and emphasise that strategies to offset the fatigue reported by this female-dominated workforce are needed.

Source: Journal of Child Health Care

DOI: 10.1177/13674935251339351

Authors: Patricia L. Lowe, Samantha Jakimowicz, Tracy L. Levett-Jones, Daniel Demant

Institutions: University of Technology Sydney, Charles Sturt University

Language: English

Topic: Occupational Health and Burnout

Subfield: Occupational Therapy

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650