Published Paper Details:

Work-life balance is increasingly critical for nurses as rising workloads, emotional strain, extended shifts, and family obligations converge to threaten their well-being and job performance. Nurses are essential to delivering high-quality healthcare, yet many face difficulty reconciling professional responsibilities with personal life, particularly in hospital and clinical settings. This study examines the principal challenges nurses encounter in maintaining work-life balance, including staffing shortages, unpredictable schedules, emotional labor associated with patient care, and the dual demands of care-giving at home. It further investigates how sustained occupational stress affects nurses' physical health--manifesting as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and somatic complaints--and mental health, presenting as burnout, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The research emphasizes the protective roles of family support, organizational measures (such as flexible scheduling, adequate staffing, and mental health resources), and evidence-based workplace policies in mitigating stress and enhancing resilience. By synthesizing empirical findings and practical interventions, the study argues that fostering a supportive work environment and promoting policies that acknowledge nurses' personal responsibilities are essential to improving their quality of life. Achieving a healthy work-life balance is associated with higher job satisfaction, reduced turnover intent, lower absenteeism, and improved patient care outcomes. The article concludes that targeted organizational strategies and social support mechanisms are vital for sustaining a resilient nursing workforce capable of delivering safe, compassionate, and effective care.