The relationship between professional quality of life and work alienation among nurses in neonatal intensive care units: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses face substantial psychological challenges. Work alienation - emotional disconnection from work - is a potential occupational concern with limited empirical attention. Left unaddressed, it may be associated with care quality and workforce stability. Objective To evaluate work alienation as an occupational concern and explore its associations with professional quality of life (ProQoL) components: compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS), among NICU nurses. Methods A cross-sectional study of 188 nurses from West Bank governmental NICUs used ProQoL and Work Alienation Scales. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation and multiple regression. Results Despite the conflict-affected setting, most nurses reported average/low levels of burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS), rather than a composite compassion fatigue score. Conclusion Work alienation is significantly associated with poorer ProQoL. Protecting NICU nurses requires interventions including peer support, restorative supervision and policy reform to sustain staff well-being and care quality.