WORKLOAD, WORK–FAMILY CONFLICT, AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING NEEDS AMONG MARRIED FEMALE NURSES

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between perceived workload and work–family conflict among married female nurses and considered its implications for professional learning needs. A quantitative cross-sectional correlational design involved 90 married female nurses at PKU Muhammadiyah Hospital, Temanggung, Indonesia, selected through proportionate stratified random sampling. Workload was assessed using a NASA Task Load Index–based measure and work–family conflict using the Netemeyer et al. scale. Descriptive analysis and Pearson correlation were applied. Average perceived workload was 69.98 on a 0–100 scale; mental demand (73.2), effort (72.6), and temporal demand (71.8) were the most prominent dimensions. Work-to-family conflict (M = 2.49) exceeded family-to-work conflict (M = 2.20). Workload was positively associated with overall conflict (r = 0.311, p = 0.003), with approximately 9.67% shared variance. These results suggest that clinical workload and scheduling pressures should be addressed through organizational measures. They also provide a rationale for exploring targeted professional learning in stress regulation, fatigue management, communication, and work–family boundary management. Professional learning needs were not directly measured, so the proposed educational responses are implications rather than empirical findings. Future studies should assess learning needs explicitly and evaluate training alongside workload and scheduling interventions.