The Effects of Adequate Rest on Nurse Job Satisfaction, Burnout Prevention, and Physical Health in Medical and Emergency Units at a Hospital in Western Jamaica: Qualitative Study.

Background: The demanding work environment of nurses in medical and emergency units often results in high stress, job dissatisfaction, and burnout. Adequate rest is crucial for maintaining nurses' physical health, mental clarity, and emotional resilience, yet it is often overlooked in these high-pressure settings. This qualitative study explores the perceptions of nurses at a hospital in Western Jamaica regarding the quality and duration of rest they receive and its impact on their professional, mental, physical, and personal well-being. The hospital was selected due to the unique challenges health care workers face in Jamaica, including limited resources, high patient loads, and frequent staff shortages, which may exacerbate rest-related issues. Objective: This study aimed to explore the perceptions of registered nurses working in the emergency and medical units of the hospital in Western Jamaica regarding their rest experience and its implications for burnout, job satisfaction, and overall health. Methods: The study used a constructivist epistemological lens and used purposive sampling to select 12 registered nurses. The principal researcher conducted in-depth interviews with each participant via Zoom, using a semistructured guide. Interviews lasted 25 to 45 minutes, were audio-recorded, and attended only by participants and the researcher. Thematic analysis was used to transcribe, code, and analyze the data, culminating in the development of a thematic map of findings. Results: The findings indicated that nurses face significant challenges in obtaining adequate rest due to staff shortages, heavy workloads, irregular shifts, and limited management support. A total of three primary themes emerged: (1) noncompliance with rest policies, (2) resource limitations, and (3) management issues, each influencing job satisfaction, burnout, and overall health. Within noncompliance, nurses highlighted suboptimal nurse-to-patient ratios, absenteeism, and inadequate break time. For example, ratios as high as "30 to 2" or "60 to 3" were cited, affecting nurses' ability to take breaks. Resource constraints included inadequate staffing, insufficient staff replacement, and the absence of suitable rest areas. Management concerns included weak policy enforcement, inadequate policy awareness, and limited support for rest breaks. These challenges collectively contributed to poor sleep quality, increased stress, and diminished job satisfaction. Conclusions: The study highlights the need for systemic improvements to address nurse rest and well-being, including increased staffing, structured policies on break enforcement, and enhanced management engagement. While the study is specific to the hospital in Western Jamaica, the findings may have broader implications for health care systems in similarly resource-constrained settings in the Caribbean and other low- and middle-income regions.